Happy Huet totally spent after record shootout

When Andrew Ladd became the 18th and final player to put a shot on net during Saturday night's showdown between the Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche that didn't want to end, there was absolutely no doubt who the happiest guy in the United Center was following the Hawks' 4-3 shootout victory.

That would be goalie Cristobal Huet, who survived a franchise record nine shootout rounds to lead the Hawks to a much-needed victory in their home opener.

But it's too bad he didn't get to see Ladd's clincher.

"I couldn't look," an exhausted Huet admitted. "I was very excited when he scored. I thank him very much for that."

Did you at least realize that the shootout lasted nine rounds?

"I had no idea," he said. "I asked a guy in here and he didn't know either. "

Ladd's goal capped off a thrilling extra session where the stars of the late show were Huet and his Colorado counterpart and former Barrington High Schooler, Craig Anderson.

"It's a crapshoot, luck of the draw," Anderson said of Saturday's never-ending shootout. "We had some good scoring chances there, but we couldn't connect. We had Huet down and out and we just lost the puck.

"If we don't lose the puck on 3 of our shootout (attempts), we might win that."

But when it came down to the final must-save situation, it was Huet - who heard a smattering of boos during pregame player introductions - coming through in the clutch.

"It was demanding, but you have to stay focused," said Huet, who turned away 16 shots in regulation. "We really needed win in the home opener.

"It's the first time I've ever been in one that was that long. It's 1 shot and you're done."

Asked if he could recall ever facing that many different players in a shootout, Anderson couldn't, but he knew one thing for certain about Saturday's final outcome.

"I would've liked to have stopped 1 more," he said, "but it's just the way things happen. We're happy to get 1 (point) but it would have been a lot better to get 2."