Burish putting up some whopper numbers for a fourth-line winger

Patrick Kane is struggling to score goals, but Adam Burish isn't.

When Burish scored late in Saturday's 7-3 loss at Vancouver, it gave the Blackhawks' fourth-line winger 5 goals in the last 15 games.

Kane went without a goal against the Canucks, giving him 1 in the last 18 games.

Burish knows his role, which is provide energy, be responsible defensively and maintain momentum when his line is on the ice.

"I feel confident right now and good about my game," Burish said. "I talk to Patrick Sharp quite a bit about scoring and his mindset, and he said it's just a confidence thing. You go into every game thinking, 'I'm going to score a goal and make a difference,' and it's working right now."

Burish has played his best hockey as a Hawk ever since returning in early January from 16 games on the injured reserve list with a broken toe.

"Getting back on the penalty kills gives me a lot of confidence too," Burish said. "I love being out there, I love blocking shots and doing those things. It gets me excited, which is why I think I've scored some goals."

The loss at Vancouver was a slight setback in what still is a great road trip. The Hawks returned home Sunday for two days with 4 wins on the first six stops on their eight-game trip.

The Hawks still have a solid hold on fourth place in the Western Conference.

"It's not so much where the other teams are at," Burish said. "At the start of this road trip we set some goals for ourselves and we're well ahead of those goals.

"It's not about where we're going to end up after this trip, it's about staying well over .500 on this road trip. That was our goal and so far we've done a pretty good job of it."

About the goalies: Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said something interesting before Saturday's loss about how he has been using Nikolai Khabibulin and Cristobal Huet on a rotating basis.

"We're going to have to do something about it, but right now we haven't been able to do anything because it just keeps working," Quenneville told reporters. "We told both guys if somebody emerges, you're going to get the ball, but right now both guys want it."

It sure sounds as if Quenneville wants to settle on a No. 1 goalie to get the bulk of the playing time approaching the playoffs.

Quenneville has stayed with his goalie rotation since Khabibulin got consecutive starts on Dec. 16 and 19.

Huet started Saturday at Vancouver but was pulled after allowing 3 goals on 9 shots. It was only the second time Quenneville pulled one of his goalies for something other than an injury.

Shake it off: The Hawks weren't at their best in the 7-3 loss at Vancouver and know it.

They fell behind 3-0 after the first period and 6-0 before saving some face in the third period.

"We weren't ready to play at the start and that made the difference," Joel Quenneville said.

The Hawks will have today off before practicing Tuesday in Bensenville then taking off for Atlanta.