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Posted at 2:30 PM EST.

10:35 PM EST. Regulation only. A few weeks back, we cited that the “dad’s trip” was a motivating factor and that some of those teams were worthy of getting behind when their dad’s came along on their annual trip. History suggested that these teams were live when they brought their dad’s along. After watching and studying the results this year, we’re now suggesting that it has the opposite effect. At first, it was a novelty and the players embraced it but it’s not a novelty anymore and it takes the players completely out of routine. They have to entertain their parent and spend time with them in group settings, not to mention share a hotel room. It’s becoming more of a distraction than anything else, especially this time of year when every single game demands one’s full attention and focus. Teams’ may get away with the Dad’s trip in December but very few have looked good in February. That brings us to the Flames.

Calgary will not embark on a Dad’s trip here, instead the team decided to make it a “Mom’s trip”. The Flames’ mothers will join their son’s on a trip to Vegas and they are not the first team to switch gears from dads to moms. Earlier this year, the Devils did that too (mom’s) and proceeded to lose both games of said trip while getting whacked in both, the first a 6-1 loss in Columbus. We have seen so many teams look flat this time around during said trip when accompanied by either parent. It’s a bad idea and it’s especially bad in late February. It is for that reason among others that we are all over the Golden Knights here.

The Golden Knights stock is lower for the first time since late November when the market realized that this team was legit. A 2-0 loss to the Ducks, a 4-1 loss to Philly, a 5-2 to loss to Minnesota and a 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh in four of its last eight games have all contributed. We’re not concerned in the least. The Knights dominated both Philadelphia and Anaheim but ran into hot goaltending. They continue to dominate games at home and they’ll now get a distracted team coming in here for the first time ever. The Knights have been knocking over everyone that comes here for the first time and taking names as they do so. The Flames are likely the next victim.

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