Here’s what has to happen down the stretch for that to happen. Calgary is battling five teams — Los Angeles, Phoenix, Nashville, Anaheim and Dallas — for four playoff positions. It’s far more idealistic than realistic from a Flames point of view, but at least it’s a possibility.

I’m giving Los Angeles fourth place with 100 points because I project them to win games against Edmonton, Dallas, Phoenix and Anaheim. I think the Kings will lose to Vancouver, San Jose and Anaheim. Not unreasonable.

If the Flames win against Anaheim, St. Louis, Colorado, Edmonton and Vancouver, they’ll finish with 97 points. Calgary is ahead of three of those teams in the standings and the Canucks are bound to rest regulars in Game 82. Unlikely, but it’s Calgary’s only hope.

I have Phoenix coming in at 96 points with just one win and an overtime loss in its last five games. The Coyotes will beat Colorado at home, but lose to Dallas, Los Angeles and San Jose twice (once in overtime). Phoenix has been doing it with mirrors all season, so a sluggish finish wouldn’t shock me.

I also have Nashville coming it at 96 points. The Predators will be outclassed by Vancouver and Detroit and take a shocking loss to the Avalanche in Colorado this Friday. Nashville will win two of its final three games, versus Atlanta, Columbus and St. Louis. Again, nothing unreasonable here. I just don’t believe in the Preds.

Anaheim is the third team I see finishing with 96 points. After a loss in Calgary today, the Ducks will lose in San Jose Saturday. I’m banking on Anaheim losing in overtime to Dallas, then beating the Sharks at home followed by a split with the Kings.

Yet a fifth team I see finishing with 96 points is Dallas. But that still budgets for five wins in its final eight games — wins against Phoenix, Anaheim, Columbus, Colorado and Minnesota, and losses to San Jose, Los Angeles and Colorado. Not that much of a stretch.

So under these scenarios, the Flames finish in fifth with 97 points, one point ahead of five other teams. Problem is, Calgary rivals are bound to pick up the occasional loser point for taking a game to overtime. That’s sure to bump the Flames to sixth, seventh or eighth.

But the Flames have to win ‘em all from here on in.