Come To Think Of It: Chicago Blackhawks Flame Out In Calgary

All we know after four games in the Stanley Cup Playoff series is that each team is better than the other one at home.

I know that sounds obvious, but it may be a surprise to those of us who figured the 'Hawks would run away with this thing after taking the first two in Chicago.

On Monday, the story was the 'Hawks missing Patrick Kane while Calgary physically beat up on the smaller Blackhawks.

Give credit to the Flames for never losing confidence, despite having been 0-6 vs. Chicago going into Monday's game.

"Even after those couple of losses in Chicago, we thought we could beat them if we played our best game," Calgary goalie Mikka Kiprusoff said.

It's clear that Calgary's game plan is to try and outmuscle the 'Hawks, since they can't match our athleticism and speed.

Wednesday night's game looked to be a blowout after the Flames took a 4-1 lead.

But the Hawks fought back, tying the game on a goal by Dustin Byfuglien at 19:27 in the second period.

In all, six goals were tallied in that second period.

But Nikolai Khabibulin and the Hawks gave it up in the third period on a goal by Eric Nystrom at 13:04.

Khabibulin didn't seem to have his head in the game tonight.

Calgary added an empty-netter late, as the Flames won 6-4 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.

The good news for the 'Hawks is that the series now heads back to the United Center, where the good guys are 26-9-8 this season.

But there's no denying that this is a series, come to think of it.