It took seven tries to do it and now the Calgary Flames can say that they have beaten the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2008-09 season. Heading into Game Three tonight, the Flames had lost all six meetings with the Hawks this year. In front of a raucous "C of Red" at home in Calgary, the Flames emphatically ended that streak against a Patrick Kane-less Hawks team.During each of the first two games of this series, the Flames blew leads in Chicago. That wouldn't be the case tonight as they narrowed the Hawks lead in the series to one game with a 4-2 win. It seemed like the young team from the Windy City may have been a bit nervous about their first road playoff game since 2002.
Initially, it looked as though the Blackhawks had conquered any road fears that they may have had. Only 2:03 into the game they jumped out to an early one goal lead and quieted the crowd. That wouldn't last, as Eric Nystrom blew the lid off the Saddledome with his goal four minutes later. From there, the Flames wouldn't look back. A goal from Rene Bourque -- after returning from the lockerroom thanks to getting his clock cleaned by Brent Seabrook during the first (video below) -- and two from David Moss gave the Flames a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
But the Hawks did have their shots in this game. Down three in the third they had eight minutes of uninterrupted power play time and failed to score during that time. Martin Havlat slam dunked a goal after all of that was over thanks to a beautiful play by Patrick Sharp to bring the lead down to two goals, but it wouldn't be enough.
Bodies flew and facewashes were exchanged during the waning minutes in what really was a rough and tumble game. Extracurriculars have become the standard in this playoff season and tonight's game was no different. The Hawks seemed to have been focusing most of their abuse on Jarome Iginla and Dion Phaneuf and that theory was validated when the Hawks sent out Adam Burish to agitate the Flames in the final minute. Both Burish and Calgary's Bourque were sent off the ice with 13 seconds to go as the referees tried to keep any messages from being sent physically.
Game Four of this series is Wednesday night in Calgary and the Hawks do expect Patrick Kane back. Kane missed tonight's game with the flu.
