CHICAGO — Nothing to play for but pride didn't stop the Blackhawks from doing what they do best.
That's dismantling the Calgary Flames.
Minutes after finding out they had already clinched their first Central Division title in 17 years, the Hawks set about spoiling the Flames' plans of winning their final four games by smacking them in the face and claiming a 4-1 victory at the United Center.
Handed the division crown when the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Detroit Red Wings earlier in the day, the Blackhawks didn't have much on the line. First overall in the Western Conference is still possible, but not exactly a priority.
If ever there was an opportunity for the Flames against a team that's dominated them for two seasons, it was Sunday afternoon. Instead, the Hawks extended their regular-season winning streak over the Flames to eight games — sweeping them the last two years.
Essentially, the loss gave the Colorado Avalanche an extra game in hand with a battle against the San Jose Sharks coming later Sunday.
The Hawks took the lead early on what looked like a harmless play.
Battling for the puck down low, Ben Eager came away with the puck and sent it back to the point, where Niklas Hjalmarsson blated a shot wide.
Popping out on the other side of the net, the puck skipped to Tomas Kopecky, who took advantage by batting a backhander into the open side.
Before heading to the penalty box to serve a hooking penalty later in the period, defenceman Cory Sarich saved a goal by cranking Patrick Kane into the back of the net and dumping the cage to the ice just as Andrew Ladd fired at the top corner. Instead of hitting twine, it rang off the lowered crossbar.
Unable to capitalize on the powerplay, the Hawks did strike again in the final minute of the first.
Brent Seabrook's blast bounced off Miikka Kiprusoff and big Troy Brouwer was all over the rebound after escaping the grasp of Flames defenceman Robyn Regehr at the side of the net.
Padding the lead late in the second period, Patrick Kane showed off his impressive skills as he raced past Rene Bourque in the neutral zone and wired a wrist shot into the top corner past Kiprusoff with both Regehr and Ian White giving the deadly Hawks forward all the time in the world as they continued to back away.
White showed he could dipsy doodle a minute later as he surged through the neutral zone and pushed the puck through defenceman Jordan Hendry before ripping a snapshot past Antti Niemi to cut the lead to 3-1.
It was as close as the Flames would get.
Now the playoffs seem a little further away.
