Quenneville: Win just what Huet needed

If there's a goalie controversy with the Blackhawks centered on Cristobal Huet, coach Joel Quenneville said it's not coming from inside the dressing room.

"I think a lot was made here early and it's still a long year," Quenneville said Friday. "We want to give him an opportunity to get his game going and I think he's progressing. There's a lot of hockey left and he's going to play a lot. We're comfortable with our goaltending situation."

Quenneville agreed that Huet needed Thursday's 3-1 win at Nashville, where he faced only 13 shots but made several critical saves including one on Jason Arnott in the first minute.

"It was good for him," Quenneville said. "I think he played well, was very solid, and made a key save early that gave us some confidence as well as himself.

"I think it was a needed win for him. He's started five games and has 1 loss."

Huet will look to make it 2 straight wins when he gets the start tonight against the Dallas Stars at the United Center.

Pulling back: With the Hawks in the middle of a stretch of four games in six nights, Joel Quenneville gave them their second day off this week Friday.

Quenneville is taking extra steps to keep his team fresh with the NHL's condensed schedule because of the two-week break for the Olympics in mid-to-late February.

"You've got to watch the guys and recognize their energy level in the middle of a four-out-of-six or a six-out-of-10," Quenneville said. "Sometimes (it's) backing off and being aware that you're probably going to get more bang for your buck when you maybe back off on a day like (Friday) and maybe you'll recognize the pace (Saturday) night."

The Hawks play their next four games at home.

"We're happy with where we're at, but I still think we can improve," Quenneville said. "We've got a favorable schedule here being at home and we've got to take advantage of it."

Line dancing: Joel Quenneville likes the line change he made this week, putting Andrew Ladd with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp and moving Kris Versteeg to the third line with John Madden and Troy Brouwer.

"You're always tinkering," Quenneville said. "That (Toews) line has been more productive and at the same time I look at Madden's line and they haven't been producing, but they're generating a ton in high quality stuff."

Back and forth: Let's hope Jack Skille has I-Pass. Skille was assigned to Rockford on Friday for the third time this week because of salary cap reasons and will be recalled today to face Dallas.