Huet, Blackhawks shut out Predators 2-0

Posted October 24, 2009 11:00 pm

By Tim Sassone

All things considered, it's 10 games into the season and the Blackhawks like where they sit.

Behind goalie Cristobal Huet, the Hawks improved to 6-3-1 with Saturday's tidy 2-0 win over the Nashville Predators at the United Center that kept them atop the Central Division standings.

While the Hawks have left a few points on the table, only 3 losses in regulation isn't too shabby considering they had to start the season in Europe and have been without three regulars in Marian Hossa, Adam Burish and Ben Eager.

"It's OK," Hawks winger Patrick Sharp said. "I think we've played pretty good in every game, really, but every game there's also things we need to improve on and get better at, we know that.

"It's a good 10-game stretch and hopefully we can continue to get better. In years past we'd be dying to take that record so it looks like things are going in the right direction, but we're never satisfied."

The Hawks beat the Predators without five regulars with Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook unable to play because of the head injuries they suffered against Vancouver.

"We were missing a couple guys, but we think we have a lot of depth in here," winger Andrew Ladd said. "Obviously, Huey had a great game tonight and helped us get through it."

It was goals by Dustin Byfuglien and Ladd 56 seconds apart early in the second period that gave Huet all the offense he needed.

Huet responded to the challenge of picking up his play with a solid 27-save performance for his 21st career shutout.

"That's a chip off his shoulder," Byfuglien said. "It takes a lot of pressure off him."

Huet turned boos from the UC crowd into cheers with his best save coming against Colin Wilson busting in late in the second period.

"The team helped me a lot with a lot of blocked shots and cleared some rebounds," Huet said. "We didn't give them a lot of scoring chances. We played very good defensively and that's a big help.

"It's one game. Obviously, it's always good to not get scored against."

After a tight-checking and scoreless first period, Patrick Kane got the Hawks' engine started early in the second.

Kane's buzzing around the Nashville zone paid off when Byfuglien swept home Kane's rebound at 7:20 for his fifth goal of the season.

Ladd scored on a similar play at 8:16, leaping out of the way of Cam Barker's shot then getting the rebound past goalie Dan Ellis.

"Chicago crashes the net as good as anyone," Ellis said.

The Hawks held the Predators to just 6 shots in the third period.

"We played safe for the most part," Sharp said. "We didn't give up too many chances defensively. Whether we had key guys out of the lineup or not, we needed a win at home here."

The victory snapped a two-game home losing streak for the Hawks.

"I thought it was a good win for Huet, a good team win for us and a good win at home," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Tim Sassone's game tracker Blackhawks 2, Predators 0 Three stars 1. Cristobal Huet, Hawks: A much-needed confidence building shutout for the No. 1 goalie. 2. Duncan Keith, Hawks: With partner Brent Seabrook sidelined, he stepped up and played 28 minutes and helped kill 3 Nashville power plays. 3. Dustin Byfuglien, Hawks: Scored a goal, again from in front, and dished out a team-high 4 hits. Key stat Hawks center John Madden, who wore an alternate captain's "A" for the first time with Jonathan Toews out, played 18 minutes and won 13 of 19 faceoffs. Still a struggle The Hawks went 0-for-3 on the power play and are 0-for-11 in the last three games.

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