Blackhawks at Flames
The Calgary Flames appeared ready to take a step back in the air-tight Pacific after losing three straight at home and staring at a four-game road trip against all division opponents. However, the Flames won three of four behind a resurgent offense and hope to ride the potent attack against the Chicago Blackhawks in Saturday's opener of a three-game homestand.
After posting impressive 6-2 victories at Vancouver and San Jose, the Flames bogged down in a 5-3 loss at Western Conference-worst Los Angeles before bouncing back in a 6-0 drubbing at Anaheim. “We talked about it on the bus about how one more big game on this road-trip gets us six of eight points,” center Mikael Backlund said. “That’s big for this group because there are a lot of teams fighting for spots.” While Calgary is locked in a three-way tie for second in the Pacific and holds down the top wild card, Chicago has stumbled badly in losing five in a row, including three straight to start its current five-game road trip to fall six points out of the final playoff slot. "You can sit around and sulk about it for 20 minutes, and then you've got to make a decision on how you want to react and get ready for the next one," captain Jonathan Toews said after Wednesday's 3-0 loss at Vancouver. "So that's all we can do right now."
TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Chicago, CBC, Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, CITY
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (25-24-8): Chicago allowed five goals each in losses at Winnipeg and Edmonton, but was flustered after unleashing a season-high 49 shots and permitting a season-low 20 against the Canucks. "It kind of reinforces the lost opportunity of the last couple of games when we weren't at that level," coach Jeremy Colliton said. Forward Zach Smith, recently promoted to the team's top power-play unit, is expected to be sidelined for seven to 10 days after his left hand was cut by a skate blade in Wednesday's loss.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (39-23-6): Backlund scored twice in Thursday's win to give him four goals and three assists on the road trip while extending his point streak to five games. “I think he’s raised his game an awful lot,” interim coach Geoff Ward said. “He’s led us not only with a lot of what he’s doing, but right now he’s leading by example with how hard he’s competing, and I think that makes a huge difference in his game." Mark Jankowski matched Backlund with two goals Thursday and has five tallies over his last seven games.
OVERTIME
1. The Flames have won seven of the last eight meetings, but Chicago posted a 5-3 victory at Calgary on Dec. 31.
2. Blackhawks F Patrick Kane is mired in a six-game goal drought but has 23 tallies and 52 points in 42 meetings versus Calgary.
3. Flames F Johnny Gaudreau has one goal in his last 12 games but 18 points in 16 matchups versus Chicago.