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Blackhawks hope for more success at home against Flames

Nov 9, 2008 - 9:17 AM Calgary (8-6-1) at Chicago (6-3-3), 7:00 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Supported by a healthy home record, the torrid Chicago Blackhawks look for their fourth consecutive victory when they host the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

Chicago has yet to lose in regulation at the United Center and carries a 5-0-2 record there this season. Its last defeat at home came on October 25, when the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings skated to a 6-5 shootout victory.

Two days after that, the Blackhawks fell, 3-2, in Minnesota and then began their current win streak. Patrick Sharp has sparked them of late, scoring seven goals in as many games and notching 11 points in that span.

Nikolai Khabibulin and Cristobal Huet have alternated the last five games and if the pattern holds true, Huet will get the call. A five-year veteran who signed a four-year, $22.4 million contract as a free agent in the offseason, Huet is 2-2-1 with a 2.73 goals-against average; Khabibulin is 4-1-2 with a 2.38 GAA.

Flames coach Mike Keenan has not exercised a similar strategy in regard to handling his goaltenders, but Curtis McElhinney logged his first start of the season in the team's 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

McElhinney played only five games in 2007-08, going 0-2-0 with a 2.00 GAA. Miikka Kiprusoff started 76 games last season and every game this season until Saturday.

Kiprusoff struggled in his last contest, surrendering six goals. However, he improved to 8-5-1 on the season in the 7-6 victory. The 32-year-old Finn will likely return to his starting role in this game for the Flames, who will look to avoid their fourth loss in five games.