Morning Box Score: Flames Beat 'Hawks, Take Game 3

By Matt Motyka in News on Apr 21, 2009 3:15PM

After winning two closely contested home games versus the Calgary Flames, the Chicago Blackhawks dropped the third of the series, 4-2, on Monday night. Things looked promising for the 'Hawks early on, when Patrick Sharp dumped a crossing pass from Jonathan Toews into the net just two minutes into the action, giving Chicago a power-play goal and a 1-0 lead. The advantage did not last long, however, as Calgary's Eric Nystrom beat Nikolai Khabibulin four-and-a-half minutes later, tying the score at one apiece. And there they would stand until the final minutes of the second period, when Rene Bourque slung home a wrap-around goal to put the Flames on top 2-1. Calgary had other ideas about another Chicago comeback, as David Moss scored twice early in the third to make it four unanswered goals for the Flames. The 'Hawks got one back thanks to the teamwork of Sharp and Martin Havlat, but with less than five minutes remaining Chicago found itself too far back to make a run. Credit Flames' goalie Miikka Kiprusoff who had 36 saves on the night.

The Blackhawks skated without forward Patrick Kane, who was suffering from the flu and remains day-to-day. During a penalty-fraught third period, Adam Burish and Rene Bourque got into a scrum which had Flames' coach Mike Keenan calling for a suspension of Burish. No word yet from the league. The loss leaves Chicago with a 2-1 edge in the series, and a 6-1 mark versus Calgary this season. The two teams will take the ice again on Wednesday night in Calgary.