Quiet Niemi nothing short of sensational

There's a good chance Antti Niemi will start one of the back-to-back games against Nashville this weekend.

And why shouldn't he? Niemi has been nothing short of sensational in the backup role with the Blackhawks, going 8-1-1 with 4 shutouts, a 1.59 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in 9 starts.

Niemi was the difference Wednesday in Detroit when he made 33 saves in the Hawks' 3-0 win at Joe Louis Arena.

"You've got to commend him on how well he challenges and how big he looks," said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville. "He takes away the opportunity sometimes before it arises. He seems to be very confident and comfortable in the net."

The quiet 26-year-old Finn continues to let his play do the talking for him.

Niemi said he was shocked and amazed to have 4 shutouts in just 9 starts.

"The defense has been doing a great job," Niemi said.

"It's amazing," Patrick Kane said.

"He's been playing great and is a really good goalie, tough to score on in practice. He's kind of different than most goalies, the way his mechanics are and different things like that. He's going to be a real good goaltender down the road."

Kane is able: Patrick Kane continues to be the most consistent part of the Hawks' offense with 38 points in 36 games.

Kane has at least 1 point in 20 of his 24 games. It was his second period power-play goal on a rocket of a slap shot through a Troy Brouwer screen and past Jimmy Howard and broke a scoreless tie in Detroit.

It's not often Kane takes a slap shot, but it was perfectly placed.

"I've scored on that play before when you come down the left side and try to get some space," Kane said. "Brouwer made a great screen and I just had to pick my corner."

It was a much-needed power-play goal for the Hawks, who are 4-for-39 over the last 10 games.

Tip-ins: The Hawks hope to get defenseman Cam Barker (lower body injury) and left wing Ben Eager (upper body) back in the lineup at some point this weekend. ... Left wing Bryan Bickell was assigned to Rockford on Thursday and likely would be recalled today if Eager can't play. - Sweden announces its Olympic team today with defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson considered a long shot to make it. - Russia unveiled its 23-man roster on Friday with ex-Hawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin left off.