Quenneville gives Huet another chance

In what could be viewed as a pivotal start, Cristobal Huet gets the net back tonight against Nashville at the United Center with the opportunity to show why coach Joel Quenneville still considers him the Blackhawks' No. 1 goalie.

Huet hasn't started since his rough game against Dallas a week ago when he allowed 2 soft goals in a 4-3 loss.

Huet's last two starts at the UC haven't gone well. Prior to the Dallas start, he was pulled Oct. 12 against Calgary after giving up 3 goals on 5 shots in the first seven minutes.

"I'm looking forward to playing and I'm going to do my best," Huet said. "I've been working hard in practice all week."

Huet needs to begin the process of winning back the home fans, many of whom have been loudly booing him.

Huet said the fans will come back to his side once be starts "doing the right things."

Quenneville decided against coming back with Antti Niemi after his good showing in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Vancouver.

"It's a good opportunity for (Huet) to get back in the net, and a good opportunity for him to play at home," Quenneville said. "He's played well against Nashville and has practiced well. He's a competitive guy, he wants the net, so let's go.

"I don't want to get in that rotating business, you win and you're in type of thing. At the same time Antti, coming off a real tough game, didn't win, but we liked the way he played. That was the first game we got outplayed and outchanced, and he gave us a chance."

Quenneville said Huet's relationship with the fans isn't an issue yet.

"Over time things will work out," Quenneville said. "Right now you've just got to fight through it and you've got to battle and show how competitive you really are. Things change and things turn. I like his approach he's had the last few days."

Hossa update: Injured winger Marian Hossa continues to take positive steps in his recovery from shoulder surgery.

Hossa now is stick handling and lightly shooting pucks and might be a bit ahead of schedule for a late November return.

"He's anxious to get to that next step where he's actually competing with guys and working with guys, and the contact thing will come later," Joel Quenneville said. "He's really progressed well in a short amount of time here. I can't really say when, but we like the progress."

Think pink: It's Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night at the UC tonight.

Pink pucks will be sold on the main concourse with proceeds going to the Vera Bradley Foundation, which raises money for breast cancer research.

Logan Molenhouse, a 12-year-old from Mokena who has defeated cancer three times, will drop the ceremonial first puck.

The joint initiative between the NHL and the NHL Players Association has raised more than $10.5 million to help fight cancer.