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Flames look to solidify eighth playoff spot in West

Mar 25, 2007 - 1:19 PM Calgary (39-25-10) at Chicago (27-38-9) 3:00 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Calgary Flames have an opportunity to further cement a playoff playoff spot against a club that is already looking toward next season.

Calgary looks to tighten its grip on the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference when it visits the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

The Flames have a league-low nine road victories and open a four-game road trip that includes two straight contests in Minnesota (45-24-7) and concludes with a matchup against Vancouver (45-23-6).

Calgary has a five-point lead over Colorado (38-29-7) for the final spot in the West and won its second straight game, a 3-2 victory over Nashville (47-21-7), on Thursday.

Defenseman Rhett Warriner scored in overtime while Alex Tanguay had a goal and an assist which extended his points streak to five games.

Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Miikka Kiprusoff is 5-2-2 with a tie and a 2.34 goals-against average in 10 career games against the Blackhawks and is 1-0-2 with a 2.34 goals-against average in three starts against them this season.

The Blackhawks, who will miss the playoff for the eighth time in nine seasons, have lost four straight thanks to a 2-1 defeat at Los Angeles on Friday. Patrick Sharp scored in his third straight game for Chicago, which has scored just six goals in its losing streak.