Blackhawks lose again
For more Blackhawks coverage:
See more articles and follow the Daily Chronicle's Blackhawks coverage for the latest information.
CALGARY, Alberta – Jarome Iginla took advantage of the struggling Blackhawks. It's been a common theme for Chicago on this road trip.
Iginla had a goal and an assist to help the Calgary Flames beat the Blackhawks 3-1 Friday night.
"It was really nice to see that one go in," said Iginla, who had six shots and put another shot off a goal post. "As a team going into the third period in a tight game lately, we haven't been able to seal it and tonight we were able to against a very good club."
Olli Jokinen scored in the first period and Jay Bouwmeester added a power-play goal in the second to help Calgary shake off two straight home losses.
Brent Seabrook scored for Chicago, which has lost five straight, including an 8-4 loss in Edmonton the night before. The Blackhawks also lost 3-2 at Vancouver in overtime on Tuesday night.
Ray Emery stopped 29 of 32 shots for the Blackhawks, who have six games left in a nine-game road trip that will feature games in all four time zones.
"I think stretches like this get your attention and as a team you learn from this," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "We haven't really had a challenge like this all year and it's up to us to recapture how we felt earlier in the year and know what it takes to win."
Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 26 shots for his 299th NHL win. He passed Mike Vernon for the Flames' goalie record with 527 games.
His best stop came early in the third as he sprawled to deny Viktor Stalberg from close-in as he burst in from off the wing in a bid for the tying goal.
"With the goalie we have, he gives us a chance to win every night so it's not like we have to score four or five goals," Jokinen said. "We're pretty confident that if we score two goals, we have a pretty good chance to win."
With Calgary hanging on to a 2-1 lead, Iginla gave the Flames some breathing room at 12:39 of the third period. Sent in alone by Alex Tanguay, Iginla fooled Emery with a deke, then dragged the puck past the goalie for his 19th goal.
Calgary took advantage of a four-minute double minor for high-sticking on Michael Frolik to make it 2-1 at 18:56 of the second.
Mikael Backlund's shot through a Blair Jones screen was kicked out by Emery but went right to Bouwmeester, who fired in the rebound for his fourth goal.
Chicago had the edge in play in the first period, outshooting Calgary 13-6, but the Flames turned the tables in the second holding a 16-6 edge in shots.
Chicago has lost seven straight road games.
Emery, who had 29 stops, was excellent in net for the Blackhawks. His record falls to 11-4-2.
Chicago tied the score at one with 29 seconds remaining in the first period, taking advantage of a defensive lapse. Seabrook crept in from the point and buried a perfect cross-ice pass from Patrick Kane before Kiprusoff could get across.
"We have a tough division, the Central division, every team this year has a chance to make the playoffs and to be honest, has a chance to win the Stanley Cup," Seabrook said. "It's going to be a dogfight to make the playoffs and we've got to get rolling here."
Calgary opened the scoring at 12:24 on a Jokinen's goal, though it took a couple minutes for his 13th goal to be confirmed.
Jokinen let go a wicked rising slapshot from 30 feet out that went off the bar at the back of the net and bounced out so fast that Jokinen, who immediately put his arms in the air, appeared to be the only person on the ice that thought it was a goal. Play continued briefly with the crowd of 19,289 seemingly confused also before play was stopped and video replay confirmed that it was a goal.
Calgary, which had lost three straight games at home, kicks off a three-game road trip against the Pacific Division Monday night in Anaheim.
Chicago will fly home for a brief stay before heading to Colorado, where the Blackhawks will continue their road trip on Tuesday night.
"We just have to work and play better as a group," Seabrook said. "We had some chances but nobody's going to give us a win here. We've got to go out there and take it, and fight for every two points."
Krys Kolanos made his Flames debut after signing with Calgary on Wednesday. Kolanos had been playing with the Flames AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, where he was the team's leading scorer.
Notes: Iginla's goal was No. 403 in his career, tying him with Peter Bondra for 39th all-time... Kolanos played right wing on a line with Mike Cammalleri and Jones... It was the 137th career NHL game for Kolanos, who has seen NHL time previously with Phoenix, Edmonton and Minnesota... Flames RW Lee Stempniak (sprained ankle) did not play. He'll be out of the line-up for six weeks... Chicago RW Andrew Brunette (upper body) missed his first game of the season.
