Razor-sharp Huet propels Hawks to win

ST. LOUIS - Cristobal Huet stole one for the Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Martin Havlat's nifty wraparound goal 1:23 into overtime gave the Hawks a 2-1 win over the Blues at Scottrade Center, but it was Huet's clutch goaltending that carried the Hawks through the first 60 minutes when they were mostly outplayed.

"That was a goalie win," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Huey was spectacular. He made several miraculous saves and we battled."

Huet's best save came 3:20 into the second period on a power play and had to leave the Blues wondering, "When is a goal not a goal?"

The answer: When it's hidden in Huet's glove.

Huet reached back to glove Alex Steen's shot from the right side that appeared on replays to be over the goal line while in the air.

But the replays were deemed "inconclusive" because the puck was concealed in Huet's glove and officials can't assume where it's at without seeing it.

"I tried to put something in front of it and I was lucky enough I was there," Huet said. "I haven't seen the replay. I know it was a close call."

The Blues outshot the Hawks 28-21 and missed the net on 21 more attempts.

Huet made Troy's Brouwer's first-period power-play goal hold up until 3:12 of the third period when David Backes tied it on a Blues power play.

Havlat gave the Hawks their 14th win in the last 19 games (14-4-1) when he swooped in to collect a Brent Seabrook rebound to the left of the net and beat Blues goalie Manny Legace to the right post for the stuff.

"It was a great play by Seabrook getting the puck to the net there," Havlat said. "I think the goalie had to make a save before I got the puck so that gave me the chance to go around the net and have a little extra time."

It wasn't an easy game for the Hawks. The Blues were rested and clogged their own zone defensively while the Hawks were coming off Friday's gritty 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Rangers.

"It was a tough game overall, but I think our goalie was the difference tonight," Havlat said.

Brouwer's goal at 12:56 of the first period, a tip of a Cam Barker shot, was a welcome sight for the Hawks after they went 1-for-11 on the power play in the loss to the Rangers including four failed 5-on-3s.

"Lately we're losing momentum in games with our power play and to get one right off the bat certainly helps," Quenneville said.