Firepower to spare as Blackhawks beat Khabibulin, Oilers

Nikolai Khabibulin enjoyed playing behind one of the most potent offenses in the NHL with the Blackhawks last season.

But Wednesday night he had to stand in against the explosive Hawks and it wasn't as much fun.

The Hawks peppered their former teammate with 38 shots and beat him four times in a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the United Center.

But it wasn't easy as Khabibulin single-handedly kept the Oilers in the game, particularly in the third period down 3-1 when he stopped Patrick Sharp on a penalty shot and Kris Versteeg on a short-handed breakaway.

"He competes hard and he never gives up on the play," Sharp said of Khabibulin. "Four goals against him is a good night."

Sharp, Jack Skille, Versteeg and Cam Barker each scored to give the 4-1-1 Hawks their third straight victory.

Barker's power-play goal with 2:42 to play made it 4-2 and turned out to be huge after the Oilers pulled Khabibulin and scored in the final minute. Barker's slap shot from the right point was a rocket through a Sharp screen past Khabibulin.

"You need a guy in front to screen the goalie," Barker said.

The Hawks were in front of Khabibulin all game and it paid off.

"You've got to do that against any goalie," Skille said. "We just tried to get point shots through and get to the net."

Sharp also assisted on Versteeg's goal to run his points scoring streak to all six games this season.

"He's been really good, quick on loose pucks and dangerous around the net," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's got the nice knack, putting pucks in right now.

"I thought we had a real strong game all across the board."

The Hawks got a solid effort from rookie goalie Antti Niemi in his first start of the season at the UC. Niemi made 16 saves to run his record to 3-0.

"I thought he was fine," Quenneville said. "He made some key saves and took away some key chances around the net."

After Sharp opened the scoring 51 seconds into the game, Skille's first goal of the season at 13:15 put the Hawks ahead to stay 2-1.

Skile's goal came on a Niklas Hjalmarsson rebound and capped an active period for the former No. 1 draft pick, who has been up and down from the minors twice in the last week because of salary-cap reasons.

Skille actually has been driving back and forth between Rockford and Chicago, practicing with the IceHogs.

"It was actually like I was back in high school (Tuesday)," Skille said. "I went to the rink with my gear, pulled it out of the bag, put it on, and when I got off the ice, put it right back in the bag.

"It's not that far. I'd rather be doing this than being stuck in Rockford for the whole year. It sends me a message that they want me here."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Tim Sassone's game tracker</p> <p class="News">Blackhawks 4, Oilers 3</p> <p class="News"><b>Three stars:</b></p> <p class="News">1. Patrick Sharp: A goal and assist for the Hawks winger, who also failed on a penalty shot.</p> <p class="News">2. Niklas Hjalmarsson: Hawks' kid defenseman played 21 minutes, had an assist and helped set up 2 other goals by teammates.</p> <p class="News">3. Nikolai Khabibulin: Oilers goalie made 34 saves and was the only reason the score was close.</p> <p class="News"><b>Key stat:</b> There were only 5 power plays the entire game with the Hawks going 1-for-2. The Hawks have scored at least 1 power-play goal in four of their six games.</p> <p class="News"><b>Who's counting?</b> Hawks captain Jonathan Toews has gone the first six games without a goal, although he had 2 assists Wednesday and is plus-5. Last season Toews went the first 12 games without a goal before finishing with 34.</p> <p class="factboxheadblack">Blackhawks game day</p> <p class="News">Nashville Predators at the Sommet Center, 7 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>TV: </b>Comcast SportsNet</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WGN 720-AM.</p> <p class="News"><b>What to watch:</b> The Predators took the worst offense in the NHL into Wednesday's game at Dallas. They had just 7 goals in the first four games yet managed to go 2-2-0. Nashville is expected to be without wingers J.P. Dumont (concussion) and Jordin Tootoo (quadriceps).</p> <p class="News"><b>Last season:</b> The Hawks were 3-2-1 against the Preds with Dustin Byfuglien scoring 3 goals.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Dallas Stars at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Saturday.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=329045">Hawks never serious about bringing back Khabibulin<span class="date"> [10/14/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>