Flames still plan to get physical

Don't expect the Flames to back off the physical play that worked so well in Calgary just because the deadlocked series returns to the United Center for Game 5 tonight.

Calgary captain Jarome Iginla said letting up would play right into the hands of the skilled Blackhawks.

"We don't play as open or end to end," Iginla said. "When we are having success, we need to play physical, aggressive and get in your face. When we let up and let them skate, they can skate and make things happen. We've got to stay on that body."

That's fine with the Hawks.

"I don't think we've had any problem with their physical play," Adam Burish said. "They played physical, but our guys are finishing games. It's not a case of their physical play scaring us, or anything.

"In a seven-game series it's a matter of who can handle it mentally and physically."

Burish was referring to two Flames - Craig Conroy and Daymond Langkow - leaving Game 4 with injuries.

Just because the series has advance to a fifth game, Burish said he is not going to stop trying to stir the pot and get under Iginla's skin.

"You've still got to get in guys' faces and be confrontational," Burish said. "Just because it's late in the series, it doesn't change. You can't give guys like Iginla a free pass."

Playing hurt: Injured Flames Craig Conroy, Daymond Langkow and Rene Bourque practiced Friday at the United Center, but coach Mike Keenan would only confirm Langkow as playing in Game 5.

"They're day to day, some more than others," Keenan said. "Daymond will play. Most teams in the playoffs have injuries."

The Flames would have a hole at center without Conroy, one of their better checkers.

Bourque missed Game 4 with an ankle injury suffered in his collision with Brent Seabrook in Game 3.

Power up: The Hawks are 4-for-17 on the power play in the series but coming off a 2-goal performance in Game 4.

Kris Versteeg and Sammy Pahlsson got the power-play goals in Game 4 as Hawks coach Joel Quenneville continues to tinker with different combinations, including using center Dave Bolland at one of the points.

"Hopefully we can rely on that aspect of our team game because it ignites our offense across the board," Quenneville said of the power play.

The quote: "Every day is a fresh day," Joel Quenneville said of the playoff experience. "It's a long process and the playoffs are a long process to get to the end. We have a group with a lot of energy and as we progress deeper in these series, we're going to look for that."

Tip-ins: Patrick Kane practiced Friday and said he still was feeling the effects of the flu that kept him out of Game 3. "For two days I didn't exercise or anything other than just lay in bed, but I'm starting to feel better," Kane said. - Game 6 on Monday in Calgary will start at 8:30 p.m. ... Joel Quenneville finds it odd that the team scoring first had lost all four games. "We still want to score first," Quenneville said.