The Calgary Flames are focused on the present, but they haven’t forgot about their past with the Chicago Blackhawks. Looking to bounce back from their first loss, the visiting Flames face the Blackhawks on Monday night for the first time since Chicago eliminated them from the playoffs last season.It’s been a little over five months since Calgary was ousted from the Western Conference quarterfinals in six games by Chicago. The Flames’ early postseason exit may have been a means of motivation and a catalyst for their 4-1-0 start.
Calgary, though, likely won’t have it easy after being outscored 22-8 while going 0-5-0 at the United Center - including playoffs - in 2008-09.
“We’re going to forget about that and remember that they knocked us out of the playoffs and use that as motivation,” forward Eric Nystrom told the Flames’ official Web site. “Chicago was one of the better teams in the league last year, and I’m sure they’re expecting to be there again this year, so if we want to be successful in this conference these are the teams we have to beat and it’ll be a really good test for us.”
The Flames tasted defeat for the first time this season, falling 5-2 to visiting Dallas on Friday. Dion Phaneuf and former Blackhawk Rene Bourque each scored their third goals of the season for Calgary, which has recorded 19 in five games.
“It’s all about being accountable,” said Flames center Craig Conroy, who was held to one assist in the playoffs last season. “We want to play well against (Chicago), but we didn’t play as well as we would’ve liked last game. We want to come out and hopefully have our best game of the year, that’s what we want to do.” His team is just 8-19 in road games when playing their third game in five days.
While Bourque and Phaneuf were held to a combined one goal and three assists against Chicago in the postseason, they are tied for the team lead in goals in 2009-10. Nystrom, who had two goals with two assists in last season’s playoffs, has two goals this season.
Calgary also bolstered its lineup by acquiring star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester in a trade with Florida and claiming forward Nigel Dawes off waivers in July. After getting the night off against Dallas, Miikka Kiprusoff is likely to be back in net for this contest.
Kiprusoff, whose 4-0-0 with a 2.95 goals-against average this season, is 8-7-3 with one tie and a 2.71 GAA versus the Blackhawks. The nine-year veteran posted a 3.52 GAA against Chicago in the playoffs, and was pulled by then-coach Mike Keenan in a 5-1 loss in Game 5 at the United Center. Calgary comes into this contest 6-2 playing on two days rest.
Chicago (2-1-1, 2-2 ATS) could start Cristobal Huet again after he stopped 16 shots and came through during a nine-round shootout in a 4-3 win over Colorado in its home opener Saturday. Huet is 1-1-1 with a 2.87 GAA this season and 2-4-0 with one tie and a 2.67 GAA against Calgary.
Andrew Ladd had a goal in regulation and the winner in the ninth round of the shootout for the Blackhawks, who are off to a good start at home after going 24-9-8 there last season. “I know I’m near the bottom (of shootout shooters),” said Ladd, who had two of his career-high 15 goals with four assists in the regular season against the Flames in 2008-09. “Usually it doesn’t go that long.”
Sportsbook.com has Chicago as -165 money line favorites with a total of Ov5.5. The Blackhawks are 8-3 in last 11 home games but just 7-22 their opponent allows five goals or more in their previous game. Chicago has played five in a row OVER on home ice. The Flames have lost 12 of last 16 away from home and each game they have played this season has totaled seven or more goals, for five straight OVERS.
This Western Conference conflict is on Versus at 8 Eastern with Chicago having taken eight of last 10 contests.
StatFox Power Line – Calgary -169 and Under
Jeff Mezydlo, STATS writer contributed to this article.
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