Winning in Calgary would be big for Hawks
Now comes the difficult part for a young team in any playoff series in any sport.
You know, that precious fourth victory in a best-of-seven playoff series.
For the Blackhawks, that opportunity comes Monday night in Game 6 of their best-of-seven smackdown with the Flames.
"We know it's going to be the toughest game of the series," Hawks winger Andrew Ladd said.
Toughest, indeed. The game will be played in Calgary where the Hawks lost twice in two tries last week.
The Pengrowth Saddledome will be angry. The Flames will be ornery. The atmosphere will be flammable.
It'll be much like Saturday night's atmosphere in the United Center, when the Hawks won 5-1 in Game 5.
The Hawks lead the series 3-2 in games with the home team winning all five.
Game 5 was over so quickly that the Flames decided to set the tone early for Game 6 by taunting and testing the Hawks early in the third period.
After Ben Eager had the gall to check top Calgary goal scorer Mike Cammalleri, the Flames' Adam Pardy took a run at Eager.
Just for the record, Eager bloodied Pardy's face.
"It wasn't something we really wanted to get into," Hawks defenseman Cam Barker said. "We wanted to play physical but didn't want to mix it up too much."
Mixing it up is the only way the Flames can neutralize the Hawks, who were flying from the opening faceoff on this night.
The Hawks had the lead before Calgary had a shot on goal. Then they scored twice more in 19 seconds in the middle of the first period to all but end the suspense.
It was like the Flames were air and the Hawks were wind. For the longest time Calgary couldn't even catch up to the Hawks to punch them.
The Hawks are that much better than the Flames. So that sets the stage for Game 6, when the Flames will be desperate to remain alive in this NHL Western Conference quarterfinal series.
The Flames will try to intimidate the Hawks up north, try to gain every edge possible the way they did while tying the series at 2 victories apiece in Calgary.
"It's one of the toughest buildings in the league to win in," Hawks winger Kris Versteeg said.
The Hawks won't be as desperate. If they lose that one, they'll get Game 7 back in the friendly confines of the UC on Wednesday night.
But for a franchise in the playoffs for the first time in seven years, it would be a major breakthrough for the Hawks to win one on the road.
The Hawks are evolving as a true Stanley Cup contender. They started the journey by nearly making the playoffs last year.
This year the Hawks did qualify for the postseason. Then they earned home-ice advantage in the first round. Then they won in the United Center.
The next step is to win a playoff game at Calgary on Monday night. The really good teams in any sport can win on the road under intense pressure in hostile buildings.
The Hawks would be big favorites in a Game 7 at home, but why give the Flames one last chance to take a swing at them?