Blackhawks Vs Flames Has Produced Very Memorable Games

Nov 27, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp (10) and Calgary Flames defenseman Kris Russell (4) fight for position during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Chicago Blackhawks won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The Blackhawks take on the Calgary Flames tonight at the United Center and although no one in their right mind would call them rivals, in the Toews/Kane era they have played one playoff series against each other and a couple of really memorable games.

The Blackhawks won their first playoff series since 1995 when they defeated the Calgary Flames in the 2009 playoffs. The Hawks defeated the Flames in 6 games and the Blackhawks would steamroll all the way to the Conference Finals where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings.

The following season the Blackhawks were a favorite to win the Stanley Cup, and a regular season game that sticks out was at the United Center in only the 5th game of the season against the Calgary Flames.  An old favorite was in net for the Hawks and Cristobal Huet was not stingy this night letting in four goals in the first two periods before being relieved by Antti Niemi who let in probably the softest goal of the night.  The Blackhawks John Madden scored to make the game 5-1 to stop the bleeding and the Hawks would score 4 more times in about 20 minutes to tie the contest.

The comeback would become a win when early into overtime Mr. Overtime

scored to give the Hawks the 6-5 win in overtime and complete the comeback from being down 5-0!

The win wasn’t just a regular season win, but one of those wins that helps a team know that no matter what the scoreboard says they were never out of a game which was huge come playoff time when they had some tough times against the Nashville Predators and Philadelphia Flyers but in the end the Stanley Cup was theirs!

The second very memorable Flames game came early into the Shortened Season of 2013 when the Hawks were just in the infant stages of the Streak. The Blackhawks never have played good at the Saddledome in Calgary and this game was no different.  Ray Emery was in net and he showed the Blackhawks nation what kind of season he was going to produce which was spectacular with only 1 regulation loss.  Emery stopped 45 shots in Calgary on 47 shots taken.  Emery was fantastic and was the only reason the Hawks were in the game at anytime but especially late.

In the last few seconds the Blackhawks were still only down 2-1 and

did something very Marian Hossa and tied things up with less than 3 seconds left in regulation.

Like 2010, this win early in 2013 gave the Hawks some early season momentum and a huge win in the final seconds that stuck in their memory banks for when they needed a couple of big goals in 17 seconds in Boston.

So of course I’m rooting for a 5-1, 6-2 win tonight but in reality I wouldn’t be upset with another memorable early season game against the Flames that is a prerequisite for something bigger next summer.

What are your memories of the big comebacks by the Hawks against the Flames?

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