The Calgary Flames enter their final game of the 2024–25 regular season with everything to play for, standing on the precipice of postseason qualification and fueled by the momentum of a campaign that has been far more resilient than expected. With a 37-27-13 record, Calgary sits just outside or on the edge of a wild card berth in the Western Conference, making their April 13th showdown at Scotiabank Saddledome against the lowly San Jose Sharks a must-win scenario. While the standings indicate this should be a manageable test, the Flames know better than to underestimate a team playing spoiler, and will be looking to start fast, play smart, and close out with purpose. At home, the Flames have been consistently competitive, sporting a 22-16 ATS record, and their familiarity with the Saddledome’s high-energy environment should serve them well in such a high-stakes setting. The forward corps is led by Nazem Kadri, who has been a tone-setter all season, posting 31 goals and 28 assists while consistently driving play and maintaining defensive responsibility. Jonathan Huberdeau has found a steadier rhythm in the latter half of the season, contributing timely points and showing better chemistry with the team’s transition game. The Flames’ depth scoring has also stepped up, with players like Andrew Mangiapane and Blake Coleman providing the type of gritty, second-chance offense that thrives in playoff-style hockey.

On the blue line, MacKenzie Weegar and Noah Hanifin have anchored a defensive group that has managed to stabilize after an uneven start to the season. Dustin Wolf has emerged as a capable and confident option in net, boasting a .910 save percentage and 2.63 GAA, and his calm demeanor has been particularly evident in tight, third-period situations. Defensively, Calgary has maintained a mid-tier goals-against average, but their ability to control pace through puck possession and physical forechecking has kept higher-scoring teams like Edmonton and Colorado frustrated in recent matchups. Special teams will be pivotal in Sunday’s finale—the Flames’ power play has been inconsistent, but their penalty kill has improved dramatically, especially when pinning opponents deep and disrupting zone entries. With the Sharks entering the contest as one of the league’s weakest teams, both in scoring and defending, the Flames will have an opportunity to control tempo and wear down San Jose’s thinner bench. Coach Ryan Huska is likely to lean on his veterans early to establish momentum, while giving younger role players opportunities to maintain energy and matchup integrity throughout the game. Calgary has won five straight home meetings against the Sharks and has covered the puck line in four of those, suggesting a matchup advantage that extends beyond just skill—this is a team with confidence in how to beat San Jose. With playoff hockey just within reach, the Flames understand that anything less than a full-throttle, 60-minute effort could result in heartbreak. But with their top performers healthy, their structure intact, and their home crowd roaring in support, the Flames appear poised to close their regular season with the kind of performance that echoes through the locker room into the opening round of the playoffs.