Jarome Iginla doubled his goal total in one night and gave the Calgary Flames a confidence boost just when they needed it most.
Captain Iginla scored three times to help the Flames beat the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2 on Friday night.
''There were some good bounces,'' Iginla said modestly. ''It does feel good. We're going to keep going and keep believing that bounces are coming for our whole group.''
Iginla still believes the Flames (8-10) can get back into playoff contention in the Western Conference. Calgary is ahead of only its Alberta rival, the Edmonton Oilers, in the West standings.
''It just seems every year there's always a team or two that nobody thought has a chance to regain some momentum, and they climb back up and they make the playoffs,'' Iginla said. ''This year we feel that can be us, but we know we have a lot of work ahead of us.''
David Moss had a goal and two assists for the Flames, who had lost eight straight to the Blackhawks, dating to March 16, 2008. Niklas Hagman, Brendan Morrison and Curtis Glencross each had a goal and an assist, and Alex Tanguay set up three goals.
Tanguay said this win was especially important for the Flames, who will begin a five-game road trip on Sunday in Detroit.
''We need to make up some extra ground,'' Tanguay said. ''Tonight was a good example of how we have to play. Let's remind ourselves to play the same way on the upcoming road trip.''
Calgary will play five games in seven days while on the road.
''We'll enjoy this one and start to get ready for our next game because they're coming very quickly,'' Calgary coach Brent Sutter said.
Jack Skille and Troy Brouwer scored for the Blackhawks, who dropped to 1-1 on their six-game road trip. Marty Turco stopped 29 shots just two nights after recording an 18-save shutout at Edmonton.
''Calgary played well, they played hard, but we weren't up to par,'' Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. ''It was one of those games where there's nothing to be happy about.''
The Flames scored seven consecutive goals after Skille opened the scoring at 6:12 of the first period. Skille broke into the Calgary zone on the right side and fired a shot that squeaked under Miikka Kiprusoff's left arm for his third goal of the season.
Hagman scored at 8:52 and the Flames went ahead for good just over three minutes later on a power-play goal by Moss, who shoveled a rebound past Turco. Tanguay took a point shot with Moss providing a screen in front.
''I was far from perfect, and when pucks are going through me like they did tonight it's an awful feeling,'' Turco said. ''It's one you want to forget about.''
Kiprusoff, who finished with 31 stops, made a pair of big saves to help the Flames carry a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. He turned aside Patrick Kane's heavy wrist shot before making a great glove grab on Marian Hossa's slap shot.
Iginla scored twice in the second to make it 4-1. He finished off a nice three-way passing play with linemates Tanguay and Matt Stajan at 10:01 and tipped Tanguay's shot past a screened Turco during a power play late in the period.
With 4:17 left to play, Quenneville brought Turco to the bench and put an extra attacker on the ice. Kiprusoff then made a nice glove save on Kane.
With Turco back in the net, Morrison sent a rebound over the fallen goalie. Iginla converted a slap shot to complete the hat trick.
NOTES: Calgary had lost three straight. ... Chicago forward Patrick Kane celebrated his 22nd birthday. ... Forward Tom Kostopolous and defenseman Anton Babchuk made their debuts for the Flames after being acquired in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
