Win just what Huet needed

It was hard to miss the boos than rang down on Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet when the starting lineup was announced before Sunday's game against Phoenix at the United Center.

Probably nobody needed the 7-1 blowout of the Coyotes more than Huet, who was hardly tested in the victory after what was a tough night for him in Detroit on Saturday.

Huet allowed a couple of goals against the Red Wings that he might wish he could have back, and it was obvious many Hawks fans felt the same way.

"I thought we played a great game in Detroit, and to let in 4 goals is kind of harsh," Huet said. "I was a little disappointed with myself at the same time. There were a few bad bounces in the first period. You never want to blow a 2-goal lead. We need to get better as a group and I need to get better. (Sunday) was a good way to respond."

The injury to Nikolai Khabibulin had given Huet the opportunity to start the last six games, and he hasn't played poorly with 2 wins and the shootout loss to Detroit coming last week.

"He's gotten us 5 of the last 6 points," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Huet, who said last week his game still was not where he hoped it would be, said a rout like Sunday was good for the entire team and not just him.

"It's a win, and whatever you can put in the bank now is good," Huet said. "It's something you can definitely build on. It's good for all our confidence."

The Hawks expect Khabibulin back at work this week, perhaps as soon as today at practice, and on Monday returned Corey Crawford to Rockford.

Quenneville should know more today as to whether Khabibulin or Huet starts Wednesday against Ottawa.

"I don't want to forecast how it's going to play out, but it will be nice to get (Khabibulin) back as well," Quenneville said.

MacIssac promoted: There was no official announcement from the Hawks on Monday, but according to a team in-house memo, Al MacIssac was promoted from director of player evaluation to senior director of hockey administration and assistant to president John McDonough. MacIssac is in his ninth year with the organization. Only time will tell how the move impacts general manager Dale Tallon and assistants Rick Dudley and Stan Bowman.

Johnny on a roll: Captain Jonathan Toews was named the NHL's second star of last week for his 4 goals and 2 assists in three games. After a slow start offensively, Toews has kicked his game up a notch and is playing with a lot of confidence around the net.

"I had a slow start," Toews said. "I think maybe I put a little too much pressure on myself and a lot of people maybe associated that with the captaincy. Obviously, I denied that."

Toews admits he has had to deal with a lot of expectations that followed his brilliant rookie year.

"It's not easy to come in as a second-year player and expect, when everything is so exciting your first year, everything goes easy, and everything is smooth," Toews said. "This year you just expect it to be the same thing, but really you've got to earn every little bit of success that you have.

"I think that first little period was tough. So it's great to finally get through that."

Nashville rookie goalie Pekka Rinne beat out Toews as first star of the week. Ottawa center Jason Spezza was third star.