But, again, let's take the positive approach, rather than harping on the worst-case scenario.
If the Flames win both of their remaining two games, the Jets will have to collect three points in their final three games to maintain their spot as the second wild card. If it sounds easy, consider the path in front of them.
It starts tonight, facing the 29th-ranked Sharks, who have given them fits this year, with wins in each of their two previous meetings. Following that, they'll head to Minnesota on the second half of a back-to-back tomorrow, squaring off with a Wild team that has Kirill Kaprizov back in the fold and is hoping to lock up home ice in the opening round.
The Jets then round out their regular-season schedule on Thursday when the visit the Avalanche, who have sights on the division crown.
Naturally, though, it starts with a win for the Flames.
Without it, the other scenarios don't matter.
"It feels like every game is the biggest game of the year," said Lucic, whose Flames will host the depleted, yet hard-charging Predators tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome. "We've been saying that for the last, feels like, 10 games. Obviously, it's a big one here tonight against a team that's been playing really well.
"It's easy to look at their lineup and think that it's going to be an easy game, but I think they've been one of the hardest teams in the league to play right now. They're playing well as a team, they've been playing well defensively, their goalie's been at the top of his game. In order for us to get the result that we want tonight, we've got to make sure that our preparation is there and we bring our 'A' Game, because it's going to be like a Game 7 here tonight.
Indeed, the Preds have been something of a revelation over the past six weeks. After selling off at the deadline and facing countless injuries to the team's key architects, they've somehow stayed in the mix, posting a 10-8-2 record since March 4.
A big reason for that has been the play of their Vezina-calibre goaltender. Juuse Saros has a .923 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average, with one shutout, in that span, and is nonsensically hot these days, recording no less than a .947 save percentage in five of his last six outings.
That stingy defensive play has been a real theme in the season series to this point, with the Flames unable to drum up enough offence in a pair of losses.
"We've got to have a good start," Lucic said. "You look at the two games, I don't think our first periods were that great against this team. We only managed to score two goals in two games against them. I talked about their team, defensively, and the structure that they play (with), we've got to find ways to create chances and when we get those chances, find a way to beat a really good, hot goalie."
Against a team that is so well-structured and plays with a lot of pace, Jonathan Huberdeau says the key is to make it "hard on them."
After all, the Flames have nothing to save it for.
"I feel like we're getting used to it," he added of these 'stressful,' must-win games. "(But) it's more about us. You don't want to be stressed - you want to play your own game and do what's best for you and play well.
"We're all in it together. 'Til the end, we knew it was going to be a grind the last few weeks. That's what it's been and I think the last two games, just give it your all."
