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Flames looking to rebound, get back in series

Apr 20, 2009 - 2:36 AM Chicago at Calgary, Western Conference quarterfinals, Game Three, 9:30 pm EST

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- Down 2-0 in their Western Conference quarterfinal series because they couldn't protect leads in Chicago, the Calgary Flames know it could be a long summer for the salary-cap club built for a long playoff run.

The Flames, set for Game 3 on Monday night, squandered a two-goal lead in Game 2 after Chicago came from behind to win Game 1 in overtime.

"I think it is about getting that first one and that bubble burst and some momentum on our side and sealing a deal," Calgary captain Jarome Iginla said. "Once you get it, I think it can be a huge momentum shift to finally get rid of that 0-6."

The Flames have never won a playoff series trailing 0-2. Teams holding a two-game lead in NHL playoff series have won 87.3 percent of them in league history.

The Flames didn't skate, but held a team meeting Sunday. The Blackhawks had a light practice at the United Center before heading to Calgary.

"We've been good there, but who cares now?" Chicago right winger Adam Burish said. "It's a different beast. Calgary is always one of the hardest places to play in the regular season. It's a crazy environment. Just like you see here, even when you're down a couple of goals we'll get a big hit or a big penalty kill and the crowd gets into it. You feed off that energy."

The Flames are up against the youngest team in the NHL playing with the devil-may-care, fearlessness of youth. It's the older, more experienced Flames who have tightened up when the Blackhawks pushed back after falling behind.

"Some of it is composure," Iginla said. "We've come out and played really well and carried a lot of the play in the first period, the first half of the game. When they started getting some momentum back their way, we haven't responded well enough."