Kane says he's ready for Game 4

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Nothing 'fishy' about his Game 3 'flu'


Patrick Kane came to practice prepared with an explanation for his absence during Monday night's Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

"I had a funeral I had to go back to in Chicago," Kane said Tuesday afternoon at the Pengrowth Saddledome. "My goldfish that I had since I was 10 years old died so I had to go back and say my prayers and flush him down the toilet."

Kane was kidding, of course, and trying to make a point that all the speculation that media outlets throughout North America had regarding the real reason he sat out of the Hawks' 4-2 loss to the Flames was incorrect.

"It was just one of those things where I didn't feel good," said Kane, who expects to return to the lineup Wednesday night for Game 4. "I heard a lot of rumors on what happened. There's only person who really knows and that's myself. I just didn't feel that great."
Kane took several hard shots?mostly from the Flames' Rene Bourque?during the first two games of the series and that fueled speculation that his absence was the result of something more serious.

"I don't think it had anything to do with the hits or anything like that," Kane said. "I wasn't feeling up to par. Everyone makes up speculation, but if that was the case I doubt I'd be back for Game 4 if it was a concussion."

One-timers: ? Winger Martin Havlat and defenseman Duncan Keith were given the day off from practice to rest and are scheduled to play Wednesday.

 

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Burning issues: Game 4 - Chicago at Calgary


The skinny: Thirteen years ago the Flames and Blackhawks hooked up in what was to be the Flame's last post-season appearance in seven long seasons. The Hawks took both games on Chicago ice and the scene returned to Calgary where the Flames promptly lost Game 3 before being swept. Game 4 in that series marked the first NHL contest for Jarome Iginla. The Flames and Iginla spared the Saddledome crowd that "ugly" game four appearance - you have tickets, you really should go, but you're team is down 3-0 and will never come back. What's the point? - by beating the Hawks 4-2 on Monday night, in a spirited battle where that very same Iginla was the focal point of a post game melee that is sure to create interest when the puck drops tonight. What was said to make the captain so angry and TSN commentator Pierre McGuire blush? And will it carry over to game four?

The edge: A double-edged sword in this contest. The Blackhawks have the edge by the very nature of a 2-1 series lead, and the history of success when winning the first two games of the series. The Flames have the momentum and a little planted doubt in the Hawks from a Game 3 that featured exactly the style of play that the Flames love this time of year. Add in a shaky night from Nikolai Khabibulin and perhaps that Bulin Wall ghost for Calgary has been somewhat exercised.

The Hawks are young, and young players aren't as skilled at saying the right things this time of year. An admittance of adversity and a tough building, of the Flames after the whistles getting in their grills could be a sign that they may not be up to the physical challenge laid out by the Flames in this series. If so than this game should push the series into a whole new light.