Stanley Cup Playoffs : Blackhawks’ Fast Start Helps Them Even Series With Flames

Shame did what five days’ worth of practices couldn’t--prepare the Chicago Blackhawks for their Campbell Conference championship series against the Calgary Flames.

“We have to apologize for the first game; that was embarrassing,” said Steve Thomas, who capped a three-goal outburst in the first 6:02 Thursday night as the Blackhawks won, 4-2, to send the series to Chicago tied at a win apiece.

In suffering only its sixth home loss all season, Calgary bore little resemblance to the team that dominated while winning, 3-0, Tuesday night and led the NHL with 117 regular-season points, 51 more than Chicago, the lowest-ranked of the 16 playoff clubs.

“They did tonight what we did to them,” Calgary Coach Terry Crisp said. “They got the early lead and then played very, very well. They didn’t open up. They played disciplined. We dug our own hole early and couldn’t climb out.”

The Blackhawks, whose 66 points were the fewest for a Stanley Cup semifinalist since 1970, had been 0-9-1 against the Flames dating back to Feb. 23, 1986, and had lost seven straight at Calgary since March 22, 1985.

Alain Chevrier made 22 saves for Chicago, trying to become the first Norris Division team to win the conference title since the current format was adopted in 1982.

Just 2:19 into the contest, Steve Larmer’s low wrist shot from the right face-off circle beat Mike Vernon.