Good and getting better for Hawks

SAN JOSE, Calif. - There was hardly a dull moment over the first quarter of the season for the Blackhawks.

Despite starting the year in Europe, not having Marian Hossa and Adam Burish, goalie Cristobal Huet struggling early and injuries to Jonathan Toews, Dave Bolland and Ben Eager, the Hawks are 15-5-2, first in the Central Division and looking every bit the part of a serious Stanley Cup contender.

"I like our first quarter," coach Joel Quenneville said Tuesday. "We did a lot of good things. Our penalty-killing was the thing we were probably looking to improve upon from last year, and that's been good.

"We've been good on faceoffs and our power play is progressing now and our goals-against we're happy with.

"We shouldn't be satisfied, for sure, but we're excited where we're at right now and looking to improve off these levels. It's been a good first quarter."

Big turnaround: Cristobal Huet's low point came Oct. 17 in a 4-3 loss to Dallas at the United Center when he allowed 2 terrible goals. His save percentage was at .844, and there were suggestions that maybe Antti Niemi should be the No. 1 guy.

But since then Huet has gone 9-2 and has won his last six starts while allowing only 11 goals with a .929 save percentage.

"Goalies, early on in the year, maybe it takes a little time," Quenneville said. "You've got to commend him for how he handled it.

"It was a tough situation and we got a great response. He took it upon his shoulders that maybe he needed to challenge a little bit more and take charge, and he did."

The backbone: With 5 goals, 13 assists and a plus-8, defenseman Duncan Keith is having the kind of season that should get him serious consideration for the Norris Trophy.

"I don't measure myself by points," said Keith, fifth in the NHL among defensemen. "I measure myself in doing the little things to play good defense."

The Hawks are first in the league in team defense and penalty-killing, and Keith is a huge reason why.

"His overall play has been amazing," Quenneville said.

The MVP: Since captain Jonathan Toews returned from his concussion, the Hawks have won seven games in a row.

They are 12-3-1 with him and 3-2-1 without him. Enough said.

Steadying influence: John Madden has proved to be a great free-agent acquisition on and off the ice.

Madden's influence is felt everywhere, from penalty-killing, to faceoffs (second in the league), to the quiet confidence to win the team now has every night.

Unsung hero: How good has 22-year-old defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson been?

Hjalmarsson is the most trusted defenseman after Keith and Brent Seabrook, which is saying a lot, and he is being rewarded by Quenneville with 20 minutes a night.

"He came in last year under the radar and just seems to get better and better every day and every game," his coach said. "He's one guy you quietly count on. His consistency is pretty amazing for a young guy at this stage of his career. Nothing rattles him.

"A veteran type of defensemen might give you those consistent minutes, but for a young kid it's pretty unusual."

New and improved: Now in his third full season, Patrick Kane is bigger, stronger and better.

Kane leads the Hawks with 23 points in 22 games and has ignited the offense on many nights.

Kane also is a more responsible player defensively (plus-8) and has demonstrated more maturity following his off-season arrest.

Special team? The playoffs still are a long way off, but the Hawks just might have the best overall talent in the NHL. They rank first in defense (2.10 team goals-against average), first in penalty-killing and ninth on the power play.

Nevertheless, don't map the parade route down Madison Street just yet. Can the Hawks stay healthy? Can Huet keep it up? Is there enough depth on defense throughout the organization?

These are just a few of the questions to be answered between now and June, but so far, so good.

Blackhawks game day

San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion, 9:30 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

What to watch: What else? Marian Hossa makes his Hawks debut trying to help his new club win its eighth game in a row and fourth straight on the circus road trip. Cristobal Huet, 9-2 in his last 11 starts, gets the nod in goal.

Season series: Hawks lead 1-0 thanks to their 4-3 overtime win Nov. 15 at the United Center on Brent Seabrook's goal.

Next: Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center, 3 p.m. Friday.