WEST -- 1st Rd. - CHI v CGY

Game	Date	Matchup/Result	Breakdown
1	Thur. April 16, 7pm et on TSN	Flames 2, Blackhawks 3 (OT)	Recap/Highlights \| Box
2	Sat. April 18, 9pm et on TSN	Flames 2, Blackhawks 3	Recap/Highlights \| Box
3	Mon. April 20, 9:30pm et on TSN	Blackhawks 2, Flames 4	Recap/Highlights \| Box
4	Wed. April 22, 10pm et on TSN	Blackhawks 4, Flames 6	Recap/Highlights \| Box
5	Sat, April 25, 8:30pm et on TSN	Flames 1, Blackhawks 5	Recap/Highlights \| Box
6	Mon. April 27, 9pm et on TSN	Blackhawks 4, Flames 1	Recap/Highlights \| Box
Blackhawks win series 4-2

* If Necessary

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Team Page | Roster | Stats

Regular Season Record: 46-24-12, 104 pts
Head-to-Head Record: 4-0-0
Last Stanley Cup Win: 1961
Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: 1992
Last Postseason Appearance: 2002
Players with Stanley Cup Rings: Andrew Ladd (1), Sammy Pahlsson (1), Nikolai Khabibulin (1)

A reason to cheer for the Blackhawks: The re-emergence of hockey as a major sporting presence in the past year in the Windy City has been nothing short of stunning. The once apathetic fan base has become re-vitalized, thanks in large part to John McDonough and Rocky Wirtz. In addition, the Hawks are an exciting young team that loves to attack with a pair of charismatic superstars in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. They might not win it all, but they will be fun to watch.
What They Bring To The Table: The transformation of the Blackhawks organization over the past year has been remarkable. The once cavernous United Centre is now packed to the rafters with rabid fans who have waited patiently for their team to return to respectability. The team on the ice has not disappointed, earning their first playoff berth in seven seasons. The Blackhawks can throw out a plethora of scoring options as Kane, Toews, Martin Havlat, Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg all broke the 20-goal barrier. Chicago gets plenty of offensive contributions from their blue line, thanks to the offensive instincts of Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith, Cam Barker and Dustin Byfuglien. Also working in the Hawks' favour is the fact that they have a playoff-tested goaltender in Nikolai Khabibulin, who captured the Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. While the Blackhawks' youth movement is extremely talented, they are not exactly battle tested. The majority of their key players have little or no NHL playoff experience. The trade with the Ducks that saw Chicago acquire Sammy Pahlsson was a masterstroke as his valuable experience gained in Anaheim's Stanley Cup run will be crucial for the green Hawks. This does not appear to be a team that is ready to lift Lord Stanley's chalice, but they could be a very tough out.

CALGARY FLAMES

Team Page | Roster | Stats

Regular Season Record: 46-30-6, 98 pts
Head-to-Head Record: 0-3-1
Last Stanley Cup Win: 1989
Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: 2004
Last Postseason Appearance: 2008
Players with Stanley Cup Rings: Cory Sarich (1), Andre Roy (1)

A reason to cheer for the Flames: No Canadian team has claimed the Stanley Cup since the Canadiens accomplished the feat in 1993. This Flames team may well be Canada's best shot at bringing the Cup back where it belongs. After coming so close in 2004, it would be poetic justice to see Jarome Iginla raise the Cup over his head at season's end. In addition after having his summers off for the past decade, Olli Jokinen will finally make his playoff debut.
What They Bring To The Table: Calgary's top line of Iginla, Mike Cammalleri and the newly-acquired Jokinen are as good as any in the NHL. They have speed, power, play-making abilities and they can put the puck in the net. While the Flames may be a little top heavy, their role players can all chip in with the occasional goal. That depth of scoring will come in handy in the post-season as teams focus on the top line. While Dion Phaneuf has not had the season he was hoping for, the Flames as a defensive unit are enjoying a great season. Robyn Regehr, who has always been tough as nails, has developed into one of the top shutdown defenders in the league. Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff is among the elite netminders in the NHL, but once again was forced to play more than 70 games this season and could wear down if the Flames make a deep run. This is also an opportunity for head coach Mike Keenan to re-establish himself as one of the top coaching minds in the league. Keenan-coached teams have only made it out of the first round once since he led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup in 1994.

Statistical keys to the series

- Chicago ranked 12th in the league on the power play, with a 19.3% success rate. Calgary ranked 21st at 17.0%.

- Chicago ranked 18th in the league in penalty killing, with an 80.6% success rate. Calgary ranked fourth at 83.4%.

- Brent Seabrook (224), Dustin Byfuglien (169) and Troy Brouwer (125) are the Blackhawks' leading hitters.

- Dion Phaneuf (159), Cory Sarich (134) and Curtis Glencross (123) are the Flames' leading hitters.

- Jonathan Toews is the Blackhawks' top face-off man -- 54.7%.

- Mike Cammalleri is the Flames' top face-off man -- 60.3%.

- Calgary's Mike Cammalleri tied for ninth in the league with 39 goals.

- Calgary's Jarome Iginla tied for tenth in the league with 54 assists.

- Calgary's Jarome Iginla ranked eighth in the league with 89 points.

- Chicago's Duncan Keith tied for fourth in the league at plus-33. Martin Havlat was tied for ninth at plus-29.

- Calgary's Mike Cammalleri tied for second in the league with 19 power play goals.

- Chicago's Kris Versteeg tied for fourth in the league with four shorthanded goals.

- Martin Havlat and Andrew Ladd led the Blackhawks with six points in four games against the Flames this year.

- Todd Bertuzzi, Jarome Iginla and Rene Bourque led the Flames with three points in four games against the Blackhawks this year.

- Chicago's leaders in power play ice time (per game):
Brian Campbell 4:28
Patrick Kane 4:10
Jonathan Toews 3:59
Patrick Sharp 3:51
Cam Barker 3:24
Martin Havlat 3:07

- Calgary's leaders in power play ice time (per game):
Dion Phaneuf 5:34
Jarome Iginla 4:54
Adrian Aucoin 4:14
Olli Jokinen 4:04*
Todd Bertuzzi 4:03
Mike Cammalleri 4:03
* Jokinen's totals include time with Phoenix.

- Chicago's leaders in penalty killing ice time (per game):
Samuel Pahlsson 4:11*
Brent Seabrook 3:30
Duncan Keith 3:29
Colin Fraser 2:57
Brent Sopel 2:44
Dave Bolland 2:17
* Pahlsson's totals include time with Anaheim.

- Calgary's leaders in penalty killing ice time (per game):
Robyn Regehr 3:41
Adrian Aucoin 2:57
Craig Conroy 2:50
Cory Sarich 2:45
Dion Phaneuf 2:43
Rene Bourque 2:24

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