Stanley Cup Playoffs : Flames Turn Up Heat, Blackhawks Get Burned, 3-0

Al MacInnis assisted on goals by Jamie Macoun and Joe Nieuwendyk and led a defense that held Chicago to nine shots in the first two periods as the Calgary Flames opened the National Hockey League’s Campbell Conference finals Tuesday night with a 3-0 victory over the Blackhawks.

Calgary led the NHL with 117 points this season. Chicago’s 66 points were the fewest of the 16 playoff teams and fewest of any Stanley Cup semifinalist since Pittsburgh’s 64 in 1970 when teams played four fewer than the current 80 games.

The Blackhawks never tested Flame goalie Mike Vernon, who made 19 saves in recording his third shutout of the playoffs.

Calgary, which poured 39 shots on Blackhawk goalies Alain Chevrier and Darren Pang, is 9-0-1 against Chicago since last losing to the Blackhawks on Feb. 23, 1986. The Flames have won seven straight against Chicago at the Saddledome, dating to March 22, 1985.

The Flames, who beat Vancouver in the seventh game of their first-round series and swept the Kings out of the Smythe Division finals, have won six straight games.

Chicago, which didn’t gain a postseason berth until the season’s final game, won eight of 11 games in upsetting Detroit and St. Louis in the Norris playoffs, as Chevrier played brilliantly. He was outstanding again Tuesday, making 32 saves before being replaced by Pang with 11:11 remaining.

But with offensive-minded defenseman Doug Wilson sidelined by a groin injury, the Blackhawks had trouble crossing the red line.

Calgary’s defensive pairings of MacInnis-Dana Murzyn, Brad McCrimmon-Rob Ramage and Macoun-Ric Nattress were standing the Blackhawks up at neutral ice.

Calgary scored midway through the first period when MacInnis cleared the puck to Joe Mullen, who fed Macoun at center ice. Macoun crossed the blue line and beat Chevrier through the pads with a dipping slap shot.

Nieuwendyk’s power-play goal made it 2-0 with 7:58 left in the second period.