The Flames take their mandatory 5 day break that will let other teams pick up some games in hand. We’ll see where the Flames sit come Monday when they face the Coyotes again.

The recent trip to the Metro Division was an opportunity to play some consistent hockey, or get blown out of the water. Overall, the team put up some points, surprising everybody.

Two points versus Pittsburgh, a good team, was deserved. But there are still some questions, or rather the same issues, that will plague the team until the end. It all surrounds coaching.

Wideman continues, inexplicably, to play top 4 D man minutes. Brodie was sheltered from him for a bit in the NJ game and promptly put up 4 points. Wideman for his part was the cause of 3 goals against. Gulutzan’s insistence to play him makes no sense and is hurting the team.

Although special teams have been good, it’s a head scratcher why not even the top PP unit would play in OT against Pittburgh. The Gio-Hamilton pair on the backend stunk out the OT frame with their performance on the PP. Again, coaching problems.

If the goaltending tandem can put together a significant run the Flames have a chance to keep their wild card position, that they’re sure to lose over the weekend. They’ll have to play about .600 hockey the rest of the way though. Can they do it?