The Calgary Flames kick off their six-game road trip in Chicago tonight and will sweep the mini-series if they control three important aspects.
1. Win the battle of the special teams
It’s no secret the Flames power play isn’t firing on all cylinders. They have the 23rd ranked power play, with a 17.2 percent success rate, in the league. The Blackhawks kill 82.3 percent of their penalties, good for 8th best in the league. Expect Calgary to throw pucks on net at a mere glimpse of Chicago’s goal. By keeping it simple, the Flames have a better chance of circumventing the Hawks’ efficient penalty kill.