The Blackhawks arrived in Calgary on Sunday with a swagger in their step.
With their dominating performance in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals Saturday night, the Hawks not only regained momentum in the best-of-seven series they now lead 3-2 over the Calgary Flames, they also bolstered their confidence as they head into hostile territory for Game 6 on Monday night. The Hawks have a chance to close out the series at the Pengrowth Saddledome and advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 1996.
"We believe in our team," Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "We believe we can win in their building. We know it's going to be tough. It's always tougher on the road with their fans cheering for them, but if we focus on what we have to do we're going to be all right."
After four closely fought games that had the series even, the Hawks scored early and often in Game 5's 5-1 victory at the United Center. It doesn't figure to be quite as easy Monday night, but the Hawks aren't intimidated by the prospect of playing -- and winning -- in front of a rabid Saddledome crowd.
They won two games during the regular season in Calgary and kept things competitive in the two losses on the Flames' home ice earlier in this series.
"Playoffs are completely different, but we do have the confidence we can win," winger Troy Brouwer said.
"It's just going to the net and trying to get in front of [Calgary goaltender Miikka] Kiprusoff and try and bang in those rebounds. That's where we've had our success so far."
With each postseason contest, the young Hawks are learning what it takes to win over the more experienced Flames. Still, series-clinching games are another level the Hawks will have to reach Monday night or in a possible Game 7 on Wednesday at the United Center.
"It's going to be tough getting the last game," Hawks defenseman Cam Barker said. "Everyone says it's the hardest one to get.
"That confidence [from Saturday] is going to carry over and we know we have to bring the same game in Calgary if we want to have a chance. They're obviously going to come hard and play a lot better than they did [Saturday]. We just have to be smart with the puck and put it in good places."
Thus far in the series each team has held serve on home ice, and overcoming that will be the Hawks' biggest challenge. The Flames had one of the league's top home records in the regular season with a 27-10-4 mark. Meanwhile, the Hawks were 22-15-4 away from home but haven't won a playoff road game since defeating the Blues 2-1 in St. Louis on April 18, 2002.
"We found how tough it is in Calgary," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Their building is going to be alive again. ... The sense of playoff hockey is real.
"We want to keep some gas on the pedal. We want to have traffic at the net. That's what we're going to need going into Calgary."
With their dominating performance in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals Saturday night, the Hawks not only regained momentum in the best-of-seven series they now lead 3-2 over the Calgary Flames, they also bolstered their confidence as they head into hostile territory for Game 6 on Monday night. The Hawks have a chance to close out the series at the Pengrowth Saddledome and advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 1996.
"We believe in our team," Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "We believe we can win in their building. We know it's going to be tough. It's always tougher on the road with their fans cheering for them, but if we focus on what we have to do we're going to be all right."
After four closely fought games that had the series even, the Hawks scored early and often in Game 5's 5-1 victory at the United Center. It doesn't figure to be quite as easy Monday night, but the Hawks aren't intimidated by the prospect of playing -- and winning -- in front of a rabid Saddledome crowd.
They won two games during the regular season in Calgary and kept things competitive in the two losses on the Flames' home ice earlier in this series.
"Playoffs are completely different, but we do have the confidence we can win," winger Troy Brouwer said.
"It's just going to the net and trying to get in front of [Calgary goaltender Miikka] Kiprusoff and try and bang in those rebounds. That's where we've had our success so far."
With each postseason contest, the young Hawks are learning what it takes to win over the more experienced Flames. Still, series-clinching games are another level the Hawks will have to reach Monday night or in a possible Game 7 on Wednesday at the United Center.
"It's going to be tough getting the last game," Hawks defenseman Cam Barker said. "Everyone says it's the hardest one to get.
"That confidence [from Saturday] is going to carry over and we know we have to bring the same game in Calgary if we want to have a chance. They're obviously going to come hard and play a lot better than they did [Saturday]. We just have to be smart with the puck and put it in good places."
Thus far in the series each team has held serve on home ice, and overcoming that will be the Hawks' biggest challenge. The Flames had one of the league's top home records in the regular season with a 27-10-4 mark. Meanwhile, the Hawks were 22-15-4 away from home but haven't won a playoff road game since defeating the Blues 2-1 in St. Louis on April 18, 2002.
"We found how tough it is in Calgary," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Their building is going to be alive again. ... The sense of playoff hockey is real.
"We want to keep some gas on the pedal. We want to have traffic at the net. That's what we're going to need going into Calgary."
