Fantastic Fourth: Chicago Blackhawks Clinch Home-Ice, Win Pivotal Game

What a wild weekend.

It may be too early to pop the champagne bottles, but it is celebration time in Chicago nonetheless.

After the Calgary Flames dropped to the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 on Friday night, the Blackhawks knew they would get to play their first two playoff games in seven years in the United Center. What they did not know, however, is who will meet them there.

After the Vancouver Canucks clinched the Northwest Division title Saturday afternoon by disposing of the Colorado Avalanche 1-0, the first matchup of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs was set: Calgary vs. Chicago.

The news is welcomed in the Windy City. The Blackhawks disposed of the Flames easily in their four meetings this season, winning all four games with a combined score of 19-6. 

History also smiles upon the 'Hawks, as they swept the Flames in a four-game set the last time they had home-ice advantage in 1996. 

As if that were not enough to get 'Hawks fans excited, their final two games came in the form of redemption—a home-and-home series with the rival Detroit Red Wings.

After losing the first two games against the Wings, both in shootouts, the Hawks were handed a pair of beat-down performances to ring in the new year. Losing all six games to the Wings would be unacceptable to Blackhawks fans, and after Saturday, they no longer have to worry.

Dustin Byfuglien cured all worries about a season sweep when he buried his penalty shot with under 30 seconds in regulation, putting the 'Hawks ahead 3-2 in a game they would eventually win 4-2. 

The victory means more to the Blackhawks' collective morale than it does to their record.

There is no better way to prepare for the postseason than playing two straight games against the defending champions, and no better way to gain swagger than going in and beating that team.

They have a chance to really put a stamp on their surprising '09 campaign in their final game of the year, in Chicago, against those same Wings. The game is featured as the Game of the Week by NBC, airing at 2 PM ET. 

Win or lose, Blackhawks fans finally have a reason to put the champagne on ice. 

Dousing the Flames

The Blackhawks have to feel supremely confident going into their opening series against Calgary, but, especially with a team so young, head coach Joel Quenneville must be careful to not allow regular season success get to their heads. 

With only four points in his last 10 games, Patrick Kane is going to need to become more active in the postseason.

Strong play from Patrick Sharp, Martin Havlat, and Jonathan Toews have made up for his absence, but in a race of the Stanley Cup, a team needs all of its players on full gear. 

Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin will have to be the main guy Quenneville turns to against the Flames. He started three of the four games and allowed six total goals for a save percentage of .941.

Fellow netminder Cristobal Huet allowed only one goal in his start, but had a paltry .888 save percentage in the month of March.

His start against the Red Wings on Saturday was his first of April, and he allowed two goals on 23 shots. Huet should be used for one game (maybe more if Khabibulin struggles), and he will need to improve his game. 

The unknown soldier in this series might be left wingman Andrew Ladd. In the season series against Calgary, Ladd had a team-leading six points, and a plus/minus of +5.

Look for left wingman Ben Eager to be in middle of things, as he racked up a total of 23 penalty minutes against the Flames this season.