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Blackhawks take road show to Calgary

Nov 19, 2010 - 4:25 PM (Sports Network) - It may be an annual visit from the circus that has Chicago out on the road for six straight games, but it has been the Blackhawks that have been turning all of the tricks when facing the Calgary Flames.

The 'Hawks shoot for their ninth straight victory over the skidding Flames this evening when they visit the Saddledome.

With the circus set to take over the United Center for the time being, the Blackhawks step aside with the first of two six-game swings this season. Chicago won't return to the Windy City until Nov. 30, but got its trek through western Canada and California off to a good start with Wednesday's 5-0 victory in Edmonton.

Jonathan Toews notched a natural hat trick, getting the first two goals during a first period in which the Blackhawks outshot the Oilers 20-4, and Marty Turco made 18 saves for his first shutout of the season and 41st of his career.

"We did a great job helping Marty," Toews said after posting his second career regular-season hat trick. "All in all, I think we played solid and it's a game we can really build off."

Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell also scored for the Blackhawks, who have won two straight since a three-game slide.

Chicago hasn't lost to Calgary since March 16, 2008. The 'Hawks have held the Flames to two goals or less in seven games on their current series winning streak -- including a 14-3 edge over the last three meetings -- and the lone game they did not was a 6-5 overtime victory in Chicago on Oct. 12 of last season when they erased a five-goal first-period deficit.

Chicago, which has also won seven straight in Calgary, shouldn't miss a beat with Turco in net. In his first season with the Blackhawks, Turco is 15-8-2 with a pair of ties and 1.81 goals-against average in his career versus the Flames.

Calgary will have a different look on the ice tonight than in recent weeks as it traded forward Brett Sutter and defenseman Ian White to Carolina on Wednesday for defenseman Anton Babchuk and forward Tom Kostopoulos. Both skaters are expected to make their debuts tonight.

The trade did little to spark the club later that night as the Flames were dealt a 3-1 setback by the Coyotes, their third straight loss and seventh in eight games.

Rene Bourque netted the only goal for the Flames and Miikka Kiprusoff turned away 28 shots in defeat, Calgary's fourth in a row at home.

"We needed urgency but we never generated enough offense, enough around the net, until the final five or six minutes," Calgary coach Brent Sutter said.

Forward Olli Jokinen will also miss tonight's game as he was handed a three- game suspension for a cross-check to the head of Phoenix forward Wojtek Wolski in the third period that earned him a five-minute major and game misconduct.

"I disagree with the league's decision to suspend me for three games," Jokinen said in a statement. "I believed from our discussion [Thursday] morning that there was an understanding that my intent was not to injure and circumstances that resulted in my stick going higher then expected."

Jokinen isn't eligible to return to action until Nov. 24 and has two goals and six assists in 17 games this season.