Hawks, Devils think outside the box

NEWARK, N.J. - Talk about a tight, crisp game.

Not only did the Blackhawks edge the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in a shootout Friday night in a playoff-like game dominated by goaltenders Antti Niemi and Martin Brodeur, there were no penalties called by referees Paul Devorski and Greg Kimmerly.

It was the first NHL game played without a single penalty since March 28, 2001, when Boston and Toronto did it.

"I thought it was a very intense game," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "It was a big 2 points for everybody with a lot on the line. They're a very disciplined team. We know that was part of it, staying with the patience program is what we talked about.

"Special teams tonight were not a part of it. Someone was saying it's been 15,000 games since the last time there's been a penalty-free game so there's a lot in between there. I think the game was hard. There were some great hits out there and it was a physical game as well."

Happy homecoming: John Madden said it was weird to play his former Devils teammates for the first time in New Jersey.

"Obviously it's strange, but our team is struggling for wins and the most important thing is to get our team going," Madden said.

Madden brought in his wife and two children in for the game to visit old friends. The Maddens still spend their summer in the area.

Madden signed only a one-year contract with the Hawks and will be an unrestricted free agent again after the season.

What about Huet? Joel Quenneville didn't sugarcoat his answer when asked Friday if he wanted to get Cristobal Huet some playing time before the end of the season.

"We'll see," Quenneville said. "We're looking to try to be first (in the Western Conference) here and trying to win some games. That's our priority now and if we get him in, we get him in."

Beach to Rockford: The Hawks have assigned left wing Kyle Beach, their 2008 first-round draft pick, to Rockford of the American Hockey League.

The 20-year-old Beach just finished a monster junior season with Spokane, where he led the Western Hockey League with 52 goals and was 11th in scoring with 86 points.

Beach is eligible to be recalled by the Hawks should they need him, particularly in the playoffs when there is no salary cap.

Tip-ins: Antti Niemi now is 6-2 in shootouts, allowing only 6 goals on 38 attempts ... Jonathan Toews' shootout goal made him 8-for-14 ... Joel Quenneville stayed with the same lineup that won at Minnesota, meaning Adam Burish was a healthy scratch again.