NHL News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Newsletter

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Do it for Johnny: The Flames and Blue Jackets are the final teams chasing miracle playoff spots

Originally posted on The Win Column | By Bill Tran | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 12:12 PM ET

In the final weekend of the 2024–25 regular season, there were more eliminations from playoff contention to be had. As the last week of the season begins, 18 teams remain in the playoff picture. Six teams in the West have clinched; seven in the East.

In the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames are on the outside looking in. In the Eastern Conference, the same is true for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both had must-win games on Sunday, and both teams won.

Look, this season would be considered as hard as any for the Flames and Blue Jackets just based on their playoff aspirations alone—at several points in the season, both teams found themselves in playoff spots but are currently not. However, these two teams will forever be connected this season and beyond for reasons more emotional than just the standings.

Calgary, Columbus, and collectively the whole hockey world grieved the loss of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matty last summer. The tragic loss forever weaved the Flames and Blue Jackets together as a part of Gaudreau’s legacy.

Do it for Johnny

Now, in the final games of the 2024–25 season, the Flames and Blue Jackets have the opportunity to do something incredible. They both still have a chance to clinch a playoff spot, and both teams will only be able to do it in their respective Game 82s. You can’t make this up.

Calgary’s path to the playoffs

The Flames are chasing the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. After the Flames’ latest win over the San Jose Sharks, this is how the West race looks:

Rank	Team	GP	Points
WC1	MIN	81	95
WC2	STL	81	94
Out	CGY	80	92

The Flames will need some outside help in the form of at least one of the teams ahead of them losing, and the only possible game Calgary can clinch a spot is in Game 82 when they face the Los Angeles Kings.

Columbus’ path to the playoffs

In the East, the Blue Jackets are chasing just one team, the Montreal Canadiens. This is the playoff picture there:

Rank	Team	GP	Points
WC2	MTL	80	88
Out	CBJ	80	85

The Blue Jackets picking up the win over the Washington Capitals kept their hopes alive. So, just like Calgary, the Blue Jackets need outside help as they need Montreal to lose both of their final games, and Columbus needs to win theirs.

Destiny awaits Calgary and Columbus

The chances are already slim for each team individually, but together, the chances are even slimmer. Per HockeyViz.com, the Flames’ win over the Sharks boosted them 8% from 10% up to 18%, while Columbus jumped 3% from 2% to 5%. Combined, there’s a 0.9% chance that both teams will make it to the postseason.

Realistically, this won’t even have a chance of coming true by the time the Game 82s are played. The dream may be cut short before it can turn into anything, as the three teams ahead of Calgary and Columbus all have clinching scenarios of their own.

Still, 0.9% is not 0%. You already know Calgary and Columbus will play their hearts out to the final—absolute final—buzzer. It’d be miraculous if just one of the two teams could make it to the playoffs, but both teams doing it together as the last teams to punch their tickets?

Proof that Gaudreau is looking out for them from the heavens.

And who knows, maybe Calgary and Columbus will face each other come June in a seven-game series.

This article first appeared on The Win Column and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: