NHL hockey is back, and the final stretch drive has begun. As the Calgary Flames enter the final stretch of the 2025-26 season, their schedule looks to be one of the hardest across the entire NHL. Already sitting bottom-five in the NHL, the team faces an uphill battle to get out of the NHL’s basement.
A league-wide look at the Flames’ final stretch
So how does the Flames schedule stack up league-wide? Here’s how their remaining slate looks in terms of strength of schedule compared to the rest of the NHL. Numbers are courtesy of Tankathon.com.
When looking at the 10 toughest remaining schedules in the NHL, the Flames currently have the second-hardest schedule in the entire NHL. In fact, the Stars are the only other Western Conference team in the top 10. Of the Flames’ 23 remaining games, their schedule has an average points percentage of .588. For context, there are only 11 teams in the league with a points percentage of .588 or higher.
When looking at the NHL’s basement and the remaining schedules of other bottom feeders, the Flames stand out even more. Here are the 14 easiest remaining schedules across the NHL.
You’ll notice right away that all of the other teams currently in the mix for a top-five draft pick have much easier schedules than the Flames. The Canucks and Rangers both rank among the 10 easiest schedules to close out the season. The Blackhawks and Blues currently have the 11th and 13th-easiest schedules, respectively.
A gauntlet to close out the season
With the second-hardest schedule remaining, it’s no surprise the Flames have some tough stretches ahead of them. With that said, it truly can’t be understated how tough some of their remaining weeks are going to be. Here are some of the truly pro-tank stretches the Flames will face in March and April.
March 14th – March 22nd
@NYI, @DET, vs STL, vs FLA, vs TBL
Outside of a tank showdown with the Blues, this five game stretch is incredibly difficult. The Islanders, Red Wings and Lightning all rank inside the top 10 of the NHL standings right now. The Panthers meanwhile are never an easy game, despite their spot in the standings. They’ll also be fighting to stay alive in the playoff race.
March 30th – April 14th
@COL, @VGK, @ANA, @DAL, @COL, @SEA, vs Utah, vs COL
I mean, where do you even start with this one? If the Flames somehow manage to get out of the NHL’s basement in the next couple of weeks, this absolute grind to close out the year will surely send them right back to the depths. This eight-game stretch is truly hell.
Eight games in two weeks, including six straight on the road to kick it off, and a back-to-back thrown in for good measure. Good luck with that.
The Flames have somehow managed to not play the juggernaut Avalanche once this season, and will see Nathan MacKinnon and the Avs three times over this two week stretch to close out the season, with two coming on the road.
The Flames will also have stops in Vegas and Dallas on this road trip. Throw in games against three teams fighting for playoff spots in Utah, Anaheim, and Seattle and a back-to-back on April 11th and 12th, and the Flames truly don’t have a single night off during this entire eight-game stretch.
A recipe for success?
If you’re a proud member of Team Tank, the Calgary Flames’ remaining schedule looks like a recipe for success. With the third-toughest slate in the NHL and a couple of truly awful stretches, the Flames are likely going to be losing a lot of hockey games over the next few weeks.