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Streaking Blackhawks try to avoid getting burned by Flames

Mar 2, 2011 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - Unlike the early parts of the season, the Blackhawks now look like a team ready to defend their Stanley Cup title.

The Flames look like a club that could slow them down.

Chicago tries to extend its longest winning streak of the season tonight and prevent Calgary from winning at the United Center for the first time in nearly three years.

The Blackhawks extended their winning run to five straight games last night with a 4-2 victory over the Wild. They are also 7-1-2 in their last 10 contests and are even with the Stars and Kings for the Western Conference's last three playoff spots. Chicago is just a point back of fifth-place Calgary, but only one up on ninth-place Nashville.

Captain Jonathan Toews has been the Blackhawks' spark over the last month. He led all scorers in February with 21 points off six goals and 15 assists, earning the league's Top Star honor for the month, and notched a goal and two helpers in Monday's win.

Patrick Sharp added his 33rd goal of the season, tied for second most in the league, and finished with an assist, while Marian Hossa scored in his fourth straight game. Corey Crawford made 24 saves in his career-high eighth consecutive start.

"We really feel we're on a hot streak right now," Toews said. "We're taking it one game at a time. It doesn't matter how we get it, just matters we get the win and move on to the next one."

Prior to Monday's win, Chicago acquired defenseman Chris Campoli from Ottawa for forward Ryan Potulny and a conditional second-round pick and he should be on the ice tonight. He will help to replace Jordan Hendry, who is out for the season with a torn left ACL.

The Blackhawks have dropped both games in Calgary this year, but were a 4-2 winner in the lone meeting at the United Center on Dec. 5. Chicago has won nine of the past 11 meetings overall and five straight at home in this series.

Calgary hasn't won in the Windy City since March 16, 2008, but comes into this game with a 5-1-1 mark over its last seven games. The Flames are coming off a sweep of a home-and-home set with the Blues, winning both games by a shutout.

Miikka Kiprusoff made 27 saves in Sunday's home win before turning aside 25 shots in last night's 6-0 victory, his sixth shutout of the season and 40th of his career. Jarome Iginla had two goals and an assist, while Alex Tanguay notched a goal and two helpers to give him a pair of goals and six assists over a five-game point streak.

"We seemed to get some momentum with each goal, and it carried us forward as the game went on," said Iginla. "I really liked our team effort tonight."

Brendan Morrison had three assists in the victory.

Kiprusoff is 2-7-2 with a 3.98 goals-against average in his last 11 versus the Blackhawks and has made 17 straight starts overall. Backup Henrik Karlsson has never faced Chicago and hasn't started since Jan. 21.

Crawford has split two career games versus the Flames with a 2.01 GAA.