The Calgary Flames BURN The Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in OT!

Jan 28, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman T.J. Brodie (7) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Chicago Blackhawks during the overtime period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Blackhawks began their toughest stretch of the season. The Blackhawks will play six games in ten days on the road. They will play the top teams in the Pacific Division. They will take on the Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, La Kings, and the Anaheim Ducks. The road trip did not start with the top teams but with the try hard Calgary Flames.

The Blackhawks have lost three in a row coming into tonight’s game. The Flames have won their last two in a row. On the season the series was knotted at one. This would be there final meeting of the season.

In the first period, the Flames got on the board early. The Flames Mikael Backlund scores less than two minutes into the game. The Blackhawks responded as Patrick Kane tied the game at one. The score remained tied until midway through the period. Lance Bouma fired a wrist shot at Antti Raanta. Raanta was fooled by the shot and Boma put the Flames back in the lead. Jonathan Toews who was playing a chip on his shoulder tonight responded. Toews drove to the net hard with a sweet move but Reto Berra made a great save. The rebound kicked to Marian Hossa for the equalizer. The first period ended tied at two.

The second period began the same as the first. Matt Stajan put the Flames up 3-2 early in the second.The Stajan goal came on a three to one break for the Flames. The much maligned forward Bryan Bickell was caught out of position which caused the Stajan breakaway.  Midaway through the second period, the Blackhawks were on the power play and the Flames turned the tables on the Hawks. Backlund scored his second goals and 4th goal of the game for the Flames. This was the 7th shorthanded goal for the Flames this season. Raanta was pulled after allowing four goals on only 15 shots. Corey Crawford would replace Raanta in net.

The Blackhawks being a resilent team responsed. Ben Smith inched the Blackhawks closer with a goal on Berra.  After the Smith goal, the Blackhawks seemed to find a rhythm. Hossa tied the game on a short handed goal late in the second period. Hossa now has the most short handed goals of all time with 29. The second period ended knotted at four.

In the third period the Flames made a goalie change. Karri Ramo replaced Berra to start the period. This was the only period in which there were no goals and no penalties. The game went to overtime. The Blackhawks overtime woes continued as T.J. Brodie beat Crawford with a wrap around  shot to propel the Flames to victory. The Flames defeated the Blackhawks 5-4 in OT.

NEWS AND NOTES:

• Patrick Kane has an 8 game scoring streak after tonight’s game.
• Brandon Pirri returned to the Blackhawks lineup tonight. Pirri was recalled from Rockford on Monday. He last played with the Blackhawks on December 3rd 2013. Pirri has zero shots and one hit.
• The Flames lead the NHL in shorthanded goals at 7.
• Marian Hossa has 29 shorthanded goals in his career. That is good for first all time.
• The Blackhawks are 0-6 overtime this season. Their last overtime goal was scored by Brent Seabrook in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals last season.
• The Blackhawks have  scored 2pts out of a possible 8pts.
• This is their first four game losing streak of the season for the Blackhawks.

There is no rest for the weary. The Blackhawks take on the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday at 9:30pm CST.

Thank for visiting Blackhawkup.com Please continue to visit blackhawkup.com to get original content and pre / post game reports. If you would like to interact with us, you can tweet us @Blackhawk_up. If you do not have twitter you can like us on Face Book.

LETS GO HAWKS!