Calgary Flames @ Chicago Blackhawks – Game 5

5 – 1  Win

Game5 in Chicago and the biggest game in this series. Statistics show, after a series is tied at 2, the team to win game 5 goes on to win the series nearly 80% of the time. With the intensity we have seen in the first four games, the final games in the series should be something the city of Chicago hasn’t seen in a long time.

The Hawks started out the game on an early power play, and they looked good. Great puck movement  created a few quality scoring chances. As quick as the first PP was over, they were on a second. This time the Hawks were able to capitalize. From the corner, Havlat fed Seabrook in the high slot for a one-timer that found Kiprusoff’s wide open stick side. Hawks go up 1-0. A surprising stat in this series. In every game in this series, the team that scored first has not gone on to win the game. But the Hawks weren’t done. Chasing a loose puck down behind the Calgary net, Toews chipped the puck to the front of the crease for Sharp to shovel a backhander in on the far side. Just 19 seconds later, the Hawks build on their early lead with a goal by Versteeg. Seabs threw a shot towards the net that hit the glass and took a funky bounce. Kris Versteeg jumped on the generous rebound, Hawks up 3-0. The Hawks dominated the first period, out shooting the Flames 15-3.Hawks were also out hitting the Flames and benefited from a few early man advantages.

It only took Calgary 3 minutes into the second to got on the board. Pardy carried the puck to the net from the point. Khabibulin made the initial save, but Boyd, who was left alone on the doorstep jammed the puck under Khabi to give the Flames some life. Seabs had the coverage on Boyd until the left him in front to attempt the shot block on Pardy’s rush.It only took 3 minuted for the Hawks to regain their 3 goal lead. The Bolland line generated this goal with a nice offensive zone possession, working the puck from the corner to the front of the net. Ladd swatted a bouncing puck in under Kiprusoff. Hawks 4, Calgary 1 with lots of hockey left to play. And with that, Kiprusoff get the hook, enter McElhinney. With 5 minutes left in the 2nd, Havlat took a hit to keep the puck in deep and sent a cross ice pass to Barker at the point. Barker blasts a slap shot from the top of the circle that hit a skate and found the back of the net. Hawks up 5-2 and continue to dominate the Flames.

For the third, Calgary upped their play but faced a tough Hawks defense that tighten up. Midway through the 3rd, it was noticeable that the Hawks were clogging the neutral zone, making it tough for the Flames to get into the zone. The Hawks killed a big 5-on-3 power play to keep the game out of reach. Final score 5-1 Hawks.

The Hawks dictated the play from the opening face off to the final whistle. The Hawks out skated, out worked and out hit the Flames. Khabibulin was never really tested in this one as the defense played solid at both end of the ice. The big guns for Calgary were MIA. Iginla – zip. Phaneuf – zero. Jokinen – nada. Langkow, Cammalleri,  Bourque – bupkis. The Hawks forwards did a great job of backchecking. Kiprusoff looked out of position on 2 of the 3 goals, which prompted the appearance of McElhinney, who had 1 regular season win in 2008-09.

Great game all-around. The Hawks will need to flex their killer instinct and put in another masterful performance for game 6, when they return to Calgary. In the post season, the Hawks haven’t won in Calgary. So far, each team has “held their server” winning at home. Time to break serve and avoid a decisive game 7.

Positives:

× The Hawks got on the board first

× The Hawks never relinquished their lead, building on it and taking it to the final whistle.

× Solid game by all Hawks

× The Hawks play a more physical game but didn’t get caught by any stupid or retalitory penalties.

Negatives:

× None

Game Notes:

× None.

MVB (Most Valuable Blackhawk):

× Brent Seabrook- Seabs has had a solid series and at times has been one of the only physical presences on the ice. This time Brent had a productive night on the score sheet as well, tallying 1 G and 2 A and led both teams with 5 hits…

Series:
GAME 1: CHI 3, CGY 2 (OT)
GAME 2: CHI 3, CGY 2
GAME 3: CGY 4, CHI 2
GAME 4: CGY 6, CHI 4
GAME 5: CHI 5, CGY 1
GAME 6: @Calgary, Mon. 4/27, TBD
*GAME 7: @Chicago, Wed. 4/29, TBD
* if necessary; all times Eastern

http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2008030185

Chicago Blackhawks @ Calgary Flames – Game 4

6 – 4  Loss

Game 4 in Calgary, and the Hawks let Calgary back into this one. At the end of Game 3, tempers flair and it was ugly. After the game, there was a lot of talk about what direction this series is going. Of all people to complain, Keenan is whining about the physical play in this series after Burish’s high cross check to Bourque. I don’t recall Keenan making any comments on Cammalleri’s sucker punch on Havlat, or Bourque taking runs at Kane, or Bourque’s multiple slashing infractions or when his team start something after almost every stoppage. As Tim Sassone reportd Wednesday:

Flames coach Mike Keenan just met with the media Tuesday and said he couldn’t care less if the Hawks are complaining about what the Calgary defensemen are doing after whistles in the form of cross-checks, slashes and face washes.

Keenan didn’t care then, but now it need to be stopped. As he calculatedly spoke to the media, he presented the Burish cross check as something more than it was. As Keenen comments on Burish snapping his stick on Bourque’s face, “Iron Mike” again goes of half-cocked with little truth. This is just what he had done with Ladd’s alleged interference on the game winner in Game 1. It’s true that Burish’s hit was high, but the fact that Bourque was hit in the shoulder pad seems to be irrelevant.

So, onto Game 4 . . .

The Hawks got on the board first with a great set up from Sharp. Sharp sped through the neutral zone and carried to the far circle to the goal line. With that, he passed a backhander into the slot where Kane one timed it, beating Kiprusoff. Hawks up 1-0. This lead didn’t last long as Iginla scores a PP goal. Iginla did a good job finding open space, creating time to fire one past Khabi from the glove side circle. Tied up 1-1. The first period has a fast pace. Kane looked like we wasn’t feeling the effects of the flu, he was flying.

The second was an exciting roller coaster of events. The Flames scored 3 goals in the first 10 minutes of the period. First goal was scored off a defensive turnover, as Barker mishandled an ill-advised cross ice pass. Jokinen was in alone and rips a wrist shot past Nik, high blocker side. The second was a goal by Aucoin, a wrist shot from the point with traffic in front. The puck gets past the 2 man screen and Khabi, 3-1 Flames. The 4th goal (3rd of the period) was a backhander scored by Jokinen. This shot didn’t have much on it, but Seabs got a stick on it, misdirecting it past an over committed Khabi, who played the short side. The Flames are up 4-1 midway through the game. Calgary seem to be a streaky team when it comes to scoring. This game looked over already.

The Hawks showed more of that resiliancy they had shown all season. Q calls a timeout to regain some composure, and the Hawks start a rally of their own. Started by a Versteg PP goal, the Hawks score 3 goals in the final 8 minutes of the 2nd. Campbell, who was surprisingly on the ice for some power play time, shot a blast from the point. Kiprusoff made the save but the rebound was on Versteegs stick at the back door. Big goal. The scond goal was set up by Pahlsson, who sent a great feed to Barker, who was cutting to the net from the point. Barker redirects it on net and beats Kiprusoff 5-hole. Not finshed yet, the Hawks are back on a PP and Pahlsson fires a shot from the point that gets past Kippy. At first, it was thought that Byf tipped this is in, but with the screen he had on Kiprusoff, he should be credited with the goal. So the Hawks go into the locker room after scoring 3 unanswered goals and shifting the momenteum of this game in Chicago’s favor.

The fast pace continued in the 3rd and the play was even. At the 13 minute mark, Sarich took a shot from the point and Khabi made the save, but let up a big rebound, right to the slot. Nystrom was quick to fire this in for the gme winner. The Hawks continued to press, however, they had little high quality chances in the 3rd. The Flames scored an open net goal as the time ran down. So the final was 6-4, but essentially this was a one goal game that the Hawks were in till the end.

Positives:

× The Hawks got on the board first

× When the Hawks were down by 3, they were able to rally back

× Kane looked good in his return from the flu

Negatives:

× Calgary is back in this series, making it a best of 3 affair

× The top guns for the Hawks were quiet after the opening goal

× Khabibulin dodn’t look his best in the loss. How often does Khabi let in 5 goals?

Game Notes:

× Kane returned from missing one game due to the flu.

MVB (Most Valuable Blackhawk):

× Kris Versteeg – Versteeg scored the much needed goal that started out the 2nd period rally. In 4 minutes of ice time in the second, Kris had 1 G and 2 A..

Series:
GAME 1: CHI 3, CGY 2 (OT)
GAME 2: CHI 3, CGY 2
GAME 3: CGY 4, CHI 2
GAME 4: CGY 6, CHI 4
GAME 5: @Chicago, Sat. 4/25, 8:00 p.m.
GAME 6: @Calgary, Mon. 4/27, TBD
*GAME 7: @Chicago, Wed. 4/29, TBD
* if necessary; all times Eastern

http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2008030184