Calgary Flames into the playoffs after it beats Chicago Blackhawks in a 3-1 faceoff – NHL Updates
Back into the Playoffs
Some call it the first solid nail in Chicago Blackhawks’ 2010-2011 season coffin and another jump start for Calgary to the playoffs. It seems as though Calgary is back on track after its recent loss against Los Angeles Kings. Having a winning streak of over
7 games, coming out of the All-Star Game break, Calgary has really improved its understanding and team coordination a lot, and have finally clinched that playoff spot it has always wanted. It was the result of winning against the Blackhawks in their home town
on a freezing cold Monday night at the sold-out Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, in a 3-1 faceoff.
Calgary is now 3 points ahead of Chicago and only 2 points shy of the 4th position in the Western Conference. October was the last time in which it was in the same situation.
If Calgary wants to retain its playoff berth, it’ll need to keep on winning games and playing with the same passion it has been so far, otherwise falling back into 9th or 10th place is only a matter of 1-2 points.
Start strong, finish strong
Calgary had a strategy going into the match. It was to start strong and to retain that strength throughout the game.
Mikael Backlund backhanded one into the net over a few players with just a little more than six minutes to go in the first and Flames’ goalie, Mikka Kiprusoff, only faced three attempts. It provided Calgary a solid base to build on.
Chicago had to deal with continuous power-plays being awarded to Calgary while penalties were awarded to its players.
Patrick Kane was sent out for 2 minutes in the first, but tied the match within six minutes of the second.
Both, Flames and Blackhawks, were tied at the end of the first 40 minutes, and the crowd was going wild as anticipation had grown out of control, going into an interesting 3rd period.
The defending Stanley Cup champions are now in 10th place of the Western Conference.
It was all Calgary in the final!
Chicago Blackhawks has developed a bad reputation for becoming a team that cannot win in any situation if the game is tied going into the third and final period, and Flames took advantage of that.
Mikka Kiprusoff made over 23 spectacular saves overall, centre, Olli Jokinen, had the opportunity of assisting two goals for Curtis Glencross nine minutes in, and another by Rene Bourque on an empty net which sealed the deal with under thirty seconds left.
Calgary will go up against Ottawa on Wednesday. Flames’ fans are surely looking forward to it but that’s a different story all together.
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