SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks knew what they were getting into even before they hosted the Blackhawks Wednesday night at HP Pavilion.The significance of Marian Hossa’s debut with the Hawks wasn’t lost on Sharks’ coach Todd McLellan after the morning skate.

Well, Hossa scored on his first shot but and added another in the third period, but that was a relatively minor part of the Hawks’ stunning 7-2 romp over the club with the best record in the Western Conference. En route to extending their winning streak to eight games the Hawks scored three shorthanded goals before a sellout crowd of 17,562.

Troy Brouwer got the first in the first period. Than Hossa and Patrick Sharp converted shortys 28 seconds apart in the second. That burst marked the fifth time the Hawks had three shorthanded goals in a game.

The first came in 1988, Denis Savard scoring two of them in a win over Winnipeg. The Hawks also had three vs. Edmonton in 1989, Los Angeles in 1991 and Detroit in 2007. Steve Larmer was part of the mix in both 1989 and 1991, and Hawks’ radio analyst Troy Murray was part of the trio of shortys at Edmonton. Rene Bourque scored twice an Sharp once in the Detroit game.

After that burst the Hawks added an even strength goal before the second was over when Dustin Byfuglien scored on the rebound of Cam Barker’s shot from the blue line that hit the pads of San Jose goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. With Thomas Greiss replacing Nabokov the lead grew to 5-0 in the third on Brent Seabrook’s shot from the blue line followed by Hossa’s second goal one minute later and a breakaway by John Madden.

Hawks’ goaltender Cristobal Huet, winning his seventh game in a row, lost his bid for  his first shutout when Dan Boyle scored during a Sharks’ five-on-three advantage 16:17 into the third period. Joe Pavelski added another San Jose goal at 17:50.

Hossa, coming off four months of rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, paid the first dividends on the 12-year $62.8 million contract he signed with the Hawks on July 1. He had his surgery 23 days later.

Even without Hossa the Sharks couldn’t beat the Hawks in their first meeting of the season at the United Center on Nov. 15. The Hawks rallied for a 4-3 victory on Seabrook’s overtime goal that night.

``The circumstances were a little different,’’ said McLellan. ``We were playing (the second of) back-to-back (games) and had been on the road a bit. But, regardless of the circumstances, we should be able to hold a two-goal lead. That just showed you how dynamic and how quick (the Hawks) are.’’

Wednesday’s game -- the fourth on this six-game road trip -- matched the first- and second-place teams in the Western Conference. The Sharks lost for the first time in regulation on their home ice. They were 7-0-2 at their Shark Tank going into the game.

``A big game with a lot at stake,’’ said Hawks’ coach Joel Quenneville, who notched his 499th victory as an NHL head coach. ``It was chance for us to close the gap on them. There was a lot of incentive on both sides. We want to sustain the momentum we have on this trip.’’

The Hawks actually started building momentum before they took off last Wednesday. The had four home wins before taking victories at Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver to start the trip..

Last season the Hawks won a franchise record nine in a row from Dec. 7 to Dec. 28. Prior to facing the Sharks the Hawks had won four in a row at the United Center followed by the three in Canada. They matcheded the longest active winning streak in the NHL this season, the New Jersey Devils being the first to string eight wins.

``Last year we progressed as the year went on,’’ said Quenneville. ``We expect to progress this year. We’re excited that Hossa’s back. He can help  us in a lot of ways.’’

The danger exists, however, that the Hawks might lean too heavily on Hossa, who played on the losing side in the last two Stanley Cup finals. They certainly didn’t on Wednesday.

``He hasn’t played in a long time, and we don’t want anyone to think he’s the go-to guy,’’ said Quenneville. ``We want to find balance, and he should be fine.’’

Hossa was paired with Jonathan Kane and Patrick Kane at the outset of Wednesday’s game. That line should be productive, but the Sharks’ top  line -- Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau -- had already established itself as the most potent in the league.

Thornton was tied for second in the NHL point race with Marian Gaborik of the New York Rangers prior to the game. They trailed only Anze Kopitar of Los Angeles. Heatley was a point behind Thornton and Marleau two behind.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- It's official. The best-paid player in Blackhawks history will make his debut with the team tonight.

Marian Hossa, who signed a 12-year, $62.8 million contract July 1, will be at right wing when the Hawks take on the San Jose Sharks at the HP Pavilion, more commonly known as the ''Shark Tank.''

Hossa went through a practice session there Tuesday and pronounced himself ready to go exactly four months after having surgery on his right shoulder.

''The shoulder feels pretty strong, and I've been waiting for this moment,'' Hossa said. ''The test was if I practiced well and there was no pain. I feel comfortable, so I have the green light.''

The insertion of Hossa into the lineup means leading scorer Patrick Kane will shift from right wing, where he has played for most of his two-plus seasons, to left wing. Jonathan Toews will be the center for Hossa and Kane in what figures to be a dangerous line.

''I'm more comfortable on the right, but it's a coach's decision,'' Hossa said. ''They're young stars, and anybody could handle the puck in the line. We'll just try to have fun with it.''

Kane said he has no complaints about moving to left wing.

''It's probably something I'll get comfortable with,'' said Kane, who played left wing occasionally in his rookie season. ''But just playing on a line with him should be enough. It'll probably be a little different on the left, but hopefully I'll find different ways to be effective. I should be fine.''

Coach Joel Quenneville, who will be looking for his 499th career victory as an NHL coach tonight, said he's not worried about Kane's ability to adjust.

''They move around,'' he said. ''It's just a situation with Marian coming in. He hasn't played for a while and likes the right side. We've got a lot of depth at that position. It's just playing hockey. Their instincts will take over.''

Putting Hossa with Kane and Toews won't disrupt the other lines that have been working so well during the Hawks' seven-game winning streak. Hossa steps in for Bryan Bickell, who has been up and down from Rockford all season. The other lines remain intact, with Kris Versteeg centering for Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien, John Madden playing between Andrew Ladd and Troy Brouwer and Colin Fraser dishing off to Ben Eager and Tomas Kopecky.

While getting a crack at the Sharks in San Jose is big, Hossa's long-awaited return is even bigger for the Hawks.

''We're pretty excited,'' Sharp said. ''We'll almost have our team complete. There are still some guys injured [Dave Bolland and Adam Burish], but [Hossa] is a big piece of the puzzle. We're not expecting too much from him early on, but we know what he's capable of. He'll be a big part of our team going forward.''

Hossa played much of last season with a sore shoulder, but he had 40 goals and 71 points to help the Detroit Red Wings reach the Stanley Cup finals. He helped the Pittsburgh Penguins reach the finals the season before, but he is still without a Stanley Cup ring. That's a big reason he signed with the Hawks, a young team looming as a championship contender for years to come.

''He came here to win, and we want to win, too,'' Kane said. ''Playing with a guy like that should make it easier.''

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Brace yourself: Marian Hossa is about to make his Blackhawks debut.

Though nothing's official, the long-awaited first game for the player with the biggest contract in franchise history is expected to come in Wednesday's game against the San Jose Sharks. If not then, Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks is the next possibility.

Whenever it is, it'll be a big deal for a young team riding a seven-game winning streak that's already plenty good. Here's what Hossa brings to the table:

• EXPERIENCE: He has played 11 NHL seasons and been in the last two Stanley Cup finals.

•  HUNGER: Neither his 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins nor his 2009 Detroit Red Wings could finish the job. Hossa's still waiting for his first Stanley Cup ring and --armed with a 12-year, $62.8 million contract -- could get it with the Hawks. It wasn't just the money that brought him here. He wanted to play for a contender, and the Hawks should be one for a long time.

• SKILL: In his 775 NHL games, he has 339 goals and 380 assists and is a plus-112. He has another 76 points in 98 playoff games. The man can do it all.

And now, four months after shoulder surgery, he's healthy.

The only question left is, how will he blend into a team that's already winning? Chances are he'll start on a line with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. That should be one of the NHL's most formidable, assuming they develop instant chemistry.

No problem, Kane says.

''He's been skating with us for a while,'' Kane said. ''It'd be nice to play with him, obviously, but even if I don't, he'll add so much more to our lineup. He's been a 40-goal scorer, and he might even get 40 this year, too, based on the skills I've seen in practice. It seems like he scores on every shot. He's really good.''

Coach Joel Quenneville hasn't revealed Hossa's linemates, but they'll be lucky guys, and Hossa also figures to stimulate a power play that has been subpar most of this season.

''He gives us lots of options,'' Quenneville said. ''Just when he started practicing with us, he upgraded our practices.''

Hossa knows his way around. This is his fourth NHL team in three seasons. He started with the Ottawa Senators, then was with the Atlanta Thrashers before his failed championship bids with the Penguins and Red Wings. He also played for Slovakia in two Winter Olympics. So the Hawks won't be his first contender, but they might turn out to be the best team he has played on.

''I've been on quite a few, and this one is right there,'' he said. ''The advantage of this team is it's mostly young guys who are just getting better and stronger in their understanding of the game.''

Last year he played for an old team in Detroit. The Hawks are the exact opposite.

''This is the youngest group of guys I've ever played with,'' Hossa said. ''It's been fun in the dressing room. It's a different crowd than in Detroit. They were a little more mature there.''

Lack of maturity might be a problem down the road. We'll see. The bottom line is, we're about to see the real Hawks now. They've been exciting and successful for a while, but now they'll be firing all their weapons.

They won't surprise anybody (as they did in last season's run to the Western Conference finals), but the Hawks must be taken as a serious threat to win the Cup.

''There's lots of tools on this team, so why not?'' Hossa said.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- This latest Blackhawks victory -- their seventh in a row -- had most unlikely heroes.

Rookie goaltender Antti Niemi, who sat on the bench the previous six games, showed no signs of rust in getting his second shutout, and Bryan Bickell, knocked dizzy the night before at Edmonton, tapped in the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night at General Motors Place.

The Hawks, for the second straight season, swept the three games in Canada to start their six-game ''circus trip.'' Now it's on to California for games with San Jose on Wednesday, Anaheim on Friday and Los Angeles on Saturday.

Niemi has watched top netminder Cristobal Huet build a six-game winning streak, but Niemi made 30 saves Sunday -- and a shot by Alex Elder in the final minute caromed off the crossbar. Though his ice time has been limited, Niemi has a 4-1-1 record and the Hawks' two shutouts. His first came in the second game, when the Hawks faced the Florida Panthers in his native Finland.

''All I can do is train good and hard and get ready for the next game -- even though I don't know when it'll come,'' Niemi said.

Bickell was wondering when his next would come as well after banging his head on the ice in a 5-2 win at Edmonton. It came on his second shift of the game after he put a hard hit on the Oilers' Dustin Penner. Bickell needed help leaving the ice and didn't return to the game.

''After a couple minutes I felt I could go back in,'' Bickell said, but the Hawks' medical staff nixed that idea and he had to pass the standing NHL concussion test before being allowed to play Sunday. The goal was his first of the season, and it came in his sixth game. He has been a callup from Rockford four times.

Jonathan Toews, the Hawks' captain, suffered a concussion after a hit by Vancouver's Willie Mitchell in the first meeting with the Canucks this season. Toews missed the next six games but the Hawks' winning streak started as soon as he returned and he had an assist on Bickell's game-winner Sunday.

Mitchell's hit was a clean one, so the Hawks didn't entertain thoughts of revenge on him Sunday.

''Getting even, retribution. ... If you worry about chasing a guy around the ice it can only lead to trouble,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''You focus on the wrong areas. Winning the game is a priority, and this is an important game for everybody. The way the rules are now, you just play hard and be hard to play against. That stuff sorts itself out.''

Niemi matched saves with Vancouver's heralded Roberto Luongo through two scoreless periods. Then Toews helped the Hawks get on the guard 72 seconds into the third. He, along with defenseman Brian Campbell, assisted on Bickell's goal. Campbell skated in along the boards from the point and cut through the crease. He lost the puck in front of the net but got it to, Bickell, who tapped in the loose puck from in front of Luongo.

It was Bickell's first goal since 2007.

Niemi did the rest, as the Hawks were outshot 30-17. It was only the third time in 22 games that the opposition put more shots on goal than the red hot Hawks.

The Canucks did a good job on Toews' linemate, Patrick Kane. He's been on fire lately and went into Sunday's game with a five-game goal-scoring streak and a nine-game point streak.

Kane had 16 points in the 13 games leading into Sunday's game. He didn't make the scoresheet in Sunday's game, in large part because the Canucks gave him special attention.

In last season's six-game playoff series Kane led all scorers with eight points, and they included his first career hat trick in the clinching game at the United Center.

BLACKHAWKS 1, CANUCKS 0

The Chicago Blackhawks have reassigned left wing Bryan Bickell to the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.

Bickell, 23, has recorded one goal and a +3 plus/minus rating in four games with the Blackhawks this season. Overall, the Bowmanville, Ontario, native has notched three goals in 13 career regular-season games with the Blackhawks over parts of three seasons (2006-07; 2007-08 and 2009-10).

Bickell has collected four goals, seven points and 26 penalty minutes in 16 AHL tilts with Rockford this season. Chicago’s third choice, 41st overall, in the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Bickell has appeared in 179 career AHL regular-season contests with the Norfolk Admirals (2006-07) and IceHogs (2007-09) since turning pro in 2006, registering 39 goals, 46 assists, 85 points and 204 penalty minutes.

Bryan Bickell's days with the Blackhawks may be numbered with Marian Hossa close to making his debut with the club. Bickell, though, got into his sixth game after being called up again from Rockford. ''It's a great opportunity to be up here, even if it's just for a game and I get sent down again,'' said Bickell, who played on a line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane during the first two games of this trip until he banged his head on the ice checking Edmonton's Dustin Penner in the first period of the Hawks' 5-2 win Saturday. Bickell spent the rest of the game recovering in the dressing room but was in the lineup Sunday. ''It's been exciting playing with two of the best guys in the league. I do what the coaches tell me. I'll just go day by day and see what happens.''

Coach Joel Quenneville suggests the NHL salary cap may be a consideration in the Hawks calling up Bickell instead of Jack Skille, who makes more money. ''But we like what [Bickell] can bring,'' Quenneville said. ''He has some speed and some size and a nice shot as well. Jack was pretty effective in what he did. Some decisions can be business, some hockey, but Bick played very well an earned an opportunity.''

Duncan Keith's value to the Hawks has always been appreciated, but this season he brought something more than defensive skill. He has 13 assists, which is one less than team leader Patrick Kane, and is tied for fifth in the NHL in scoring among defensemen. Last season Keith had a career-best 37 assists in 77 games. With 21 games played, he's on pace for a 52-assist season. ''His points are really piling up,'' Quenneville said. ''Defensively he's played great hockey. Game in and game out he plays quality minutes and gets the job done.''

Cristobal Huet has won his last six starts, which is one better than his longest run of wins last year when he split time in goal with Nikolai Khabibulin. Huet had a string of nine straight wins when he was with Washington before joining the Hawks.

Huet's backup, rookie Antti Niemi, made his first start since Nov. 6. ''Huet had a good stretch of games and, with back-to-backers, this was a good chance for [Niemi] to play,'' Quenneville said.

EDMONTON, Alberta -- That first matchup between Nikolai Khabibulin and Cristobal Huet -- the Blackhawks' well-paid goaltending tandem of last season -- still hasn't materialized.

Only Huet played Saturday as the Hawks took a 5-2 win over Khabibulin's Edmonton Oilers in the second game of their six-game road trip. The Hawks are 2-0 on their journey, which resumes tonight at Vancouver.

''We've had a good start to our trip,'' coach Joel Quenneville said. ''Huet was rock-solid again, but we got contributions across the board. We did a lot of good things.''

Khabibulin developed a sore back after the Oilers' morning skate and was unable to dress, even as the backup, for the Hawks' first visit of the season to Rexall Place. Huet, who was the backup for rookie Antti Niemi when the Hawks handed Khabibulin and his new team a 4-3 loss at the United Center on Oct. 14, started his sixth straight game, and both he and the Hawks stretched their winning streaks to six games.

With Khabibulin out, the Oilers, beset with injuries, went with little-used Jeff Deslauriers between the pipes. He made his fifth game appearance, coming off a 5-3 win over the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. Torri Jung of the Edmonton Oil Kings, a Western Hockey League team, was signed to a one-day amateur tryout contract as the backup.

The Hawks made it tough on Deslauriers from the outset, scoring on him twice in the first 7:20. Jonathan Toews scored the first goal 3:50 into the game, and Kris Versteeg's rebound went in off the arm of Edmonton's Sheldon Souray. In between those two scores, Souray had a tap-in goal for the Oilers.

Patrick Kane, who assisted on Toews' first goal, made it 3-1 five minutes after Versteeg's goal with a charge down the right side after getting the puck from Toews. That extended Kane's goal streak to four games and his points streak to nine -- matching the Hawks' longest of last season, by Cam Barker and the departed Martin Havlat.

The lead grew to 4-1 at 11:02 of the second period when Troy Brouwer fired a shot from the left circle off Deslauriers' pads. Andrew Ladd controlled the rebound and slipped a pass to John Madden, who hit an empty net.

The Oilers thought they had cut the deficit in half when Shawn Horcoff poked the puck between Huet's legs and into the net on an Oilers power play, but after a long video review, the goal was ruled to have come after time expired in the period. The Oilers still scored on that power play -- one second before it expired -- when Dustin Penner connected 1:29 into the third period after Toews was called for holding the stick.

Toews got that one back for the Hawks at 8:53 in the third period with his second goal of the night, a power-play tally after ex-Hawk Ethan Moreau was sent off for goaltender interference. Patrick Sharp and Brian Campbell assisted.

The Hawks had one setback when winger Bryan Bickell banged his head on the ice after checking Penner in the first period. Bickell needed help leaving the ice and didn't return to the game, but Quenneville was hopeful he'd be ready for the Canucks tonight.

The Hawks are 5-0-1 against the Oilers dating back to the start of the 2008-09 season. Huet, after a slow start, has won nine of his last 11 starts. Before Saturday's game, he had climbed to fifth in the NHL with his 2.17 goals-against average, and his save percentage over his last nine games was a dazzling .927.

The last month has been great for Huet after a shaky start.

''He's been awesome,'' Kane said. ''Maybe in the beginning of the year it was a little unfair the way the fans and media treated him, but he had to get back in the groove a little bit and started to play more games.''

Quenneville said Huet ''really responded to a tough situation. ''[Huet's] a quiet guy, but everybody has pride, everybody wants to play and have success. He's a real good pro, and you've got to commend him on how he handled it.''

BLACKHAWKS 5, OILERS 2

The third game of the road trip tonight at Vancouver will rekindle a bad memory for the Blackhawks. The last time the teams met, on Oct. 21 at the United Center, Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell flattened Jonathan Toews with a hit that resulted in the Hawks captain missing six games with a concussion. The Hawks admit that Mitchell's hit was clean, and Toews said, ''I'm not looking for any retribution. I want to play a great game and show them something like that isn't going to change the way I play.'' Coach Joel Quenneville also had no complaints about Mitchell's hit, despite the damage it caused. ''If [Mitchell] wanted to hurt him, maybe he leads with his elbow, but he kept it down,'' Quenneville said. ... Rookie goalie Antti Niemi is the projected starter tonight. It'll be his first start since a shootout loss Nov. 6 at Colorado. ... Andrew Ebbett's stay with the Hawks lasted 10 games. The Hawks claimed him on waivers from the Anaheim Ducks on Oct.17, and the Minnesota Wild acquired him off waivers from the Hawks on Saturday. Ebbett was tried as the second-line center when Dave Bolland required back surgery but couldn't do the job. He had a goal and two penalty minutes with the Hawks and was a healthy scratch the last two games before being waived. ... Kris Versteeg's two goals Thursday at Calgary represented the Hawks' first multiple-goal game by a player this season. They were the last team in the NHL to have one. ... Quenneville reiterated that Marian Hossa's debut will come ''probably in California -- San Jose [on Wednesday] or around that time.'' Hossa continues to work out with the team and says his surgically repaired shoulder is getting stronger. ... The Hawks were 10-0-1 against the two Alberta clubs, Calgary and Edmonton, over the last two regular seasons entering Saturday.

Len Ziehm

EDMONTON, Alberta -- A month ago, Cristobal Huet's status as the Blackhawks' top goalie was shaky. A bad start against the Calgary Flames and a bad goal against the Dallas Stars suggested he might not be the man to replace Nikolai Khabibulin.

Those fears are gone. Huet has won his last five starts and eight of his last 10, and he figures to face Khabibulin for the first time tonight when the Hawks battle the Edmonton Oilers.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville made no announcement about the starting goalie after practice Friday at Rexall Place, but he has stuck with Huet for the last month whenever there has been at least one day off between games. The Hawks last played Thursday, when they opened their six-game trip with a 7-1 romp against the Flames in which Huet was brilliant.

The Oilers are an injury-riddled team that hasn't given Khabibulin much support. Only two goalies have faced more than the 602 shots Oilers opponents have fired at Khabibulin, who signed a four-year contract with the team in July. He has started 18 of the Oilers' 21 games, compiling a 7-9-2 record, a .909 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average.

Despite the slow start, Huet is 10-4-2 with a .907 save percentage and 2.17 GAA.

''I'm still taking it one game at a time,'' Huet said. ''I don't want to get ahead of myself.''

He and Khabibulin could have faced off when the Oilers visited the United Center on Oct. 14, but Quenneville went with rookie Antti Niemi. The Hawks won 4-3 in Khabibulin's first appearance against his former team.

''I'm sure he'd like to win against his ex-teammates,'' Huet said, ''but we're playing against the [Oilers'] forwards. It should be fun seeing him on the other side.''

Khabibulin took a rare night off Wednesday, when Oilers coach Pat Quinn gave backup Jeff Deslauriers the start in a 6-4 home victory against the Colorado Avalanche.

Quenneville said he thinks Huet felt the pressure early in the season.

''He had an ordinary start, probably because he was under a lot of scrutiny, and he really responded to a tough situation,'' Quenneville said. ''Then it seemed like he started challenging more, was more assertive at the top of his crease. He was fighting for rebound control and got more in a take-charge mode.''

That was never more evident than Thursday. While the Hawks' abundance of goals was the most eye-catching part of the victory, Huet's play was outstanding.

''He was great, very sharp, from start to finish,'' Quenneville said. ''But it was a good game across the board. I was very happy with all aspects. Everybody contributed.''

Niemi is 3-1-1 but hasn't played since Nov. 6. Quenneville said Niemi will play on the trip, probably in the second of back-to-back games -- Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks or Nov. 28 against the Los Angeles Kings.

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Blackhawks got their six-game road trip off to a rousing start Thursday, crushing the Calgary Flames 7-1 in a game that was all but decided after the second period.

The Hawks snapped a 1-1 tie with five unanswered goals in the second in romping to their sixth straight win over Calgary. Kris Versteeg, who sat out the previous game with an upper body injury, scored twice for the Hawks in the second period barrage with Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Patrick Kane also scoring.

Ben Eager's goal midway through the third made it the Hawks' biggest offensive display of the season. This game was completely different than the teams' Oct. 12 meeting at the United Center, when the Flames jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first 12 minutes and then were blitzed in a stirring Hawks' comeback. The Hawks got that one 6-5 on Brent Seabrook's goal in overtime.

''We wanted a good start against them, and it was fun seeing the guys get on the board like that,'' said goaltender Cristobal Huet, who won his fifth straight start. ''You never know when you'll have a game like that. They took some penalties, and we took advantage of it. It was good to see our confidence get higher on the power play.''

The Hawks, 20th in the NHL in power-play percentage, scored four times with the man advantage to assure their fifth straight win and even their road record at 3-3-1.

''I wouldn't say that was uncharacteristic of our power play,'' forward Patrick Sharp said, ''but not many people would expect us to score as many as we did. Anytime you do that you'll come out on top.''

Troy Brouwer's power-play goal made it 1-0, and Calgary's Olli Jokinen tied it on a power play 14 seconds into the second. Then a sequence of events led to the Hawks' explosion.

Hawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson flattened Flames forward Rene Bourque, a former Hawk, along the boards. Bourque didn't return to the game and teammate Nigel Dawes went after Hjalmarsson in retaliation. Hjalmarsson's hit was a clean one, however, and Dawes wound up in the penalty box for roughing. Versteeg scored on the ensuring power play.

Then Colin Fraser was sent off for seven minutes after initiating a scrap with Eric Nystrom. After the Hawks killed a penalty, Byfuglien scored on a rocket from the right circle, Ladd tallied on a breakaway and Kane and Versteeg scored on power plays 36 seconds apart.

''It was nice to see the power play break out,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''We were due to have a night like that.'

The Hawks defeated the Flames for the sixth straight time at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Kane called this season's first meeting with the Flames at the United Center ''great for us, one of the funnest games I've ever played in'' but Thursday's had to rival that one with all the scoring.

Quenneville called the visit to Calgary ''the toughest challenge we've had all year'' following Thursday's morning skate. The six-game trip continues in Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles.

''To be above .500 on this trip would be an accomplishment,'' Quenneville said.

BLACKHAWKS 7, FLAMES 1

The Blackhawks’ youngest player turned 21 on Thursday. Patrick Kane celebrated quietly. ‘‘I was expecting little pranks, but it’s been pretty low-key,’’ Kane said. ‘‘For your 21st birthday, you usually do it up pretty good. Everyone says that once you turn 21 you don’t want to get any older. It’s a good feeling. You get a little bit of freedom, but it comes with responsibility. You’ve got to be smart with what you’re doing.’’ Kane had a goal and an assist through two periods Thursday to extend his goal-scoring streak to four games and his point streak to eight.

The Hawks entered their 20th game with a 12-5-2 record. Last season they were 10-4-6 after 20. ... This six-game ‘‘circus trip’’ will be tough. Five of the opponents are over .500 and four made the playoffs last season. Game 2 of the trip is Saturday at Edmonton. Last season the Hawks were 3-2-1 when the circus took over the United Center, but they won just six of 35 games during the same part of the schedule from 2001 to 2008.

Brent Sutter, in his first year coaching the Flames, played the last seven seasons of his 18-year NHL career with the Hawks before retiring in 1998. His brothers Darryl and Brian are former Hawks head coaches.

Rene Bourque, Calgary’s leading scorer with 21 points heading into Thursday game, played for the Hawks from 2005 to 2008. Aaron Johnson was with the Hawks last season and started this season on the roster before being claimed on waivers by the Flames. Johnson has played in just two games for Calgary.

When John Madden went 9-for-9 on faceoffs against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, it was the first time a Hawk had done that well since Yanic Perreault was 12-for-12 against Colorado on Oct. 19, 2007.

The six road games the Hawks had played before Thursday were the fewest in the NHL.

The Hawks are leading the NHL in penalty killing again. They had an 86.8 kill percentage before facing the Flames. The Hawks’ shot differential (plus-10.1) was also the league’s best.

The big contract extensions apparently coming soon to Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith could be a distraction to the Blackhawks as they begin a six-game trip tonight against the Calgary Flames. None of the players want that.

''The sooner the better [for the extensions to be signed],'' Kane said, ''but right now I'm just worried about playing hockey and the road trip coming up. We're on a bit of a roll and want to keep that going.''

The three stars don't know when their contracts will be finalized, and the club has yet to even comment on the matter, but there's no question about the Hawks being on a roll -- at least on home ice. They've won seven straight games at the United Center but won't play there again until Dec. 1. They haven't been so good on the road, with a 2-3-1 record on enemy ice.

''We haven't played a whole lot of games on the road,'' Keith said. ''We want to prove we're a good road team, just like we did at home.''

The Hawks will encounter an angry team tonight. The Flames have bad memories of last season's playoff series, which the Hawks won in six games. They also have bad memories of a horrendous Oct. 12 game at the United Center, when they opened a 5-0 lead but lost to the Hawks 6-5 in overtime.

''That was a heck of a game in our building,'' Toews said. ''They got caught by surprise with our comeback win. I imagine they'll be motivated to come back in their building. It'll be a tough atmosphere, but we found a way [to win] there in the playoffs.''

And there was Tuesday's game at the Pengrowth Saddledome, when the Flames could have taken over the Northwest Division lead. Instead, they fell 3-2 to the Colorado Avalanche, which meant the end of Calgary's six-game point streak.

Instead of making tonight's game a matchup of division leaders, that loss dropped Calgary three points behind Colorado in their division.

The Hawks played 12 of their first 19 games at home, and two of the others were on neutral ice in Finland, so this long road trip will be something new and different.

''It's been awhile since we've been away, and this is different than Finland,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''We've got three games in four nights against some top opponents in the league. We'll find out how we play in hostile environments. At the end of it we'll get a better view of our team.''

The Hawks follow tonight's game with visits to Edmonton on Saturday and Vancouver on Sunday before heading to California for three more games. To beef up for the trip, the Hawks decided to bring along a spare forward. Bryan Bickell was called up from Rockford for the fourth time before Wednesday's practice at Johnny's Ice House, but he might not be the spare tonight. He performed well in three previous callup games and skated on a line with Kane and Toes on Wednesday.

Kris Versteeg, who missed the last game with an upper body injury, also skated for the second straight day and is expected to return to the lineup tonight.

This annual ''circus trip,'' when the Hawks and Bulls must play road games because a circus takes over the United Center, has been traditionally tough on the Hawks. They were 3-2-1 last year, sweeping three games in Canada but stumbling home with a 0-2-1 record in the last three games. That was their first winning record on the trip since 1997.

''All six are tough places to play, and those teams play well at home,'' Quenneville said.

It's no secret that Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman wants to sign Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith to long-term contracts before they become restricted free agents after this season. The Hawks still would have the right to match offers any of the three might receive from other clubs if that happened, but all three strongly stated after practice Tuesday that they want to remain with the Hawks for the long term.

Recent published reports even suggested their signings are imminent, but that might be wishful thinking on the part of both the players and the team. There was no sign of signings after the workout Tuesday.

''I guess there's a little bit of a rumor out there,'' Kane said, ''but it's between my agent and Stan and the Blackhawks' organization. I don't know when it will happen. Maybe the story got a little blown out of proportion. Who knows what will happen?''

One new twist to the contract scenario did surface Tuesday when Kane and Toews confirmed they've talked about their signings -- if and when they happen -- being announced at the same time.

''And it'd be nice for it to be with Duncan, too,'' Kane said.

Such a signing would be extraordinary, as most high-profile stars -- with the exception of Daniel and Henrik Sedin, the Vancouver Canucks' star forwards who insisted on a package deal -- take the spotlight alone when they agree to a new contract.

''It's a little different talking with a guy about that,'' Kane admitted, ''but it'd be nice to get it done all at the same time rather than sign one guy, then another guy and maybe one has to wait. If we all get it done at the same time, we'll all be better off.''

''It would be cool,'' Toews said, ''but there's still some things to be determined. We [Kane and Toews] have been in a lot of the same situations -- every event, every little thing on and off the ice. We're not sure how it will happen, but the rumor's circulating now. It's hard to separate us.''

Keith didn't address the joint-signing possibility but made it clear he wants to remain a Hawk.

''There's no contract yet, but I like it here. I want to stay here,'' he said. ''It's a good feeling to be a part of this group. I'd like to be here for a long time.''

''I'm not going to lie: It's exciting to think about,'' Toews said. ''But that's handled by other people for you. Hopefully the fans want us to stay here a long time because we do, too. We'll see how it goes.''

''Ever since I came here, it's been first-class,'' Kane said. ''I know I came from Buffalo and grew up a Sabres fan, but I know there's no better place to play than here. [The Hawks] had faith in picking me with the first overall pick [in 2007], so it's obviously not a place you'd want to leave.''

Bowman, though, has salary-cap issues. He signed Brian Campbell for eight years and $56.8 million and Cristobal Huet for four years at $22.5 million before last season, and Marian Hossa got the biggest contract in franchise history -- 12 seasons for $62.8 million -- in July. Fitting more players under the 2010-11 salary cap, which should be right around the $56.8 million figure of this season, might not be possible, given that other players need to be signed, too.

''We have so much talent, but who knows where the cap will be next year?'' Kane said. ''In a perfect world, it'd be nice to keep this whole team together. I don't know if it could happen. I'm not a cap expert.''

The signing issue blossomed as the Hawks prepared for their ''circus trip,'' a six-game journey that begins Thursday in Calgary while the circus is in Chicago. The Hawks depart after another workout today and won't play at the United Center again until Dec. 1. The future of the three stars will be a topic of discussion the rest of the season until there are some signings. Bowman thinks he can get it done, no matter what the 2010-11 cap is.

''It hasn't been too much of a distraction to me,'' Toews said. ''There wasn't a lot of talk about it until now. Every day we want to focus on our jobs and let things take care of themselves down the road.''

It’s no secret the Blackhawks want to keep Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith around for a long time, but -- despite recent published reports -- none are signed for next year yet.

``I guess there’s a little bit of a rumor out there,’’ Kane said after practice on Tuesday, ``but it’s between my agent and Stan (Hawks’ general manager Stan Bowman) and the Blackhawks’ organization.’’

Because the NHL’s salary cap might drop for next season Bowman could be facing a big challenge in keeping the nucleus of his promising, young team together. Signing all three stars might be difficult, and the reports of an imminent signing of any of them could be premature.

``I don’t know when it will happen,’’ said Kane. ``Maybe the story got a little blown out of proportion. Who knows what will happen?’’

All three stars, though, said they want to remain with the Hawks.

``There’s no contract, but I like it here and I want to stay here,’’ said Keith. ``It’s a good feeling to be a part of this group. I’d like to be here a long time.’’

``It’d be cool (to stay with the Hawks),’’ said Toews, ``but that’s still something to be determined. I’m not going to lie. It’s exciting to think about, but it’s handled by other people for you. Hopefully the fans want us to stay here a long time, because we do to. We’ll see how it goes.’’

About all the Blackhawks did Monday was send Bryan Bickell back to Rockford again and savor their seven-game winning streak at the United Center. After a day off the ice, they return to practice today at Johnny's Ice House.

Bickell had another solid game in his third one-game call-up from the minors, earning a plus-2 rating in the 4-3 overtime victory Sunday against the Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks. Whether he will play on the upcoming two-week road trip is unclear, but the Hawks will need all the help they can get when the journey begins Thursday at Calgary.

Last season, the Hawks were 7-4-5 before the annual circus trip, on which they went 3-2-1, their first winning record since going 3-1-2 in 1997.

This time, the Hawks enter the trip at 12-5-2. They are in first place in the Central Division and own their longest home winning streak since the 2001-02 season, but they have played 13 games on home ice. The Hawks are 2-3-1 on the road.

After Calgary, the Hawks travel to Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles before returning to the United Center on Dec. 1 against Columbus. The Hawks have beaten the Flames, Oilers, Kings and Sharks at home but lost to the Canucks.

The most memorable victory came Oct. 12 against the Flames. The Hawks fell behind 5-0 in the first period before winning in overtime on Brent Seabrook's goal. Up-and-coming defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said winning that game has paid big dividends.

''We're always able to battle back. That game against Calgary gave us a lot of confidence,'' Hjalmarsson said. ''We never give up. Hopefully, we can bring that confidence to the road.''

The victory Sunday against the Sharks was an eye-opener, too, because the Hawks wiped out a two-goal deficit against a premier team before Seabrook won it again in OT.

''When you're down two against a top team like that, it's not very often that you're going to come back and get two [points],'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Blackhawks have had some big wins in the first six weeks, but the 4-3 overtime victory Sunday over the San Jose Sharks was a real eye-opener.

The Hawks overcame a two-goal deficit against the best team in the Western Conference in the last game of a four-game homestand.

Brent Seabrook's second overtime game-winner of the season got the job done as the Hawks won their seventh consecutive game at the United Center. The last time they had a streak that long on home ice was in 2002.

As for the Sharks, their point streak is now at 12 games (9-0-3), but the overtime loss should get them thinking as the Hawks pay them a visit in the fourth game of their upcoming six-game road trip on Nov. 25.

''They're hot, but us being down 3-1, we showed them what we're all about,'' Hawks goalie Cristobal Huet said.

''It was a great way to come back, a great two points,'' coach Joel Quenneville said. ''We've built momentum at home. I like the way we played all the games, but being down 3-1, that was a great response.''

With the biggest crowd of the season (21,130) cheering them on, the Hawks erased the two-goal deficit before the second period was over, battled gamely during a tense third and got the win when Seabrook delivered 41 seconds into overtime.

Jonathan Toews, who provided the setup pass, and Troy Brouwer did some banging on defenders behind the net before Seabrook ventured up front from his defensive spot to blast the winner past goalie Evgeni Nabokov.

''[Brouwer] got the puck first and pushed someone out of the way,'' Seabrook said. ''Then [Toews] pushed another guy. They did all the work.''

The Hawks recovered from a horrendous start to the second period when they surrendered two goals in the first 1:59 to fall behind 3-1.

Jason Demers' first NHL goal, on the Sharks' first power-play opportunity, put San Jose ahead for the first time 74 seconds into the period. Patrick Marleau's 12th of the season increased the lead 45 seconds later.

The Hawks didn't fold, though. Toews retrieved a loose puck behind the San Jose net and fed Patrick Kane in front to make it 3-2 with 7:54 gone in the period, and the game was tied again when John Madden converted on the second of Andrew Ladd's two shots off Nabokov. Kane has seven points in the last seven games.

''We never give up; our crowd keeps us in the game,'' said Hawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, selected the game's No. 2 star behind Seabrook.

Duncan Keith and Toews each had two assists, and Madden won all nine of his faceoffs. Keith has seven points in his last five games.

Brent Sopel's first goal of the season, a shot from the blue line, gave the Hawks the early lead 4:08 into the game, and Dan Heatley tied it with a shot from the top of the right circle 15:01 into the first period.

''We wanted to finish here with a good streak, and we got that done,'' Seabrook said. ''We've got a tough trip ahead of us, and we'll try to take that momentum with us on the road.''

The trip, necessitated by a circus taking over the United Center, starts Thursday at Calgary.

BLACKHAWKS 4, SHARKS 3

Anyone who follows sports -- and hockey in particular -- knows by now the iconic Blackhawks are a team that has been transformed in the last couple of years -- thanks in large part to an aggressive management team with a smart game plan AND a group of hockey players that just happens to know how to play the game pretty well.

So it is not altogether surprising that the Blackhawks also would want to be on the cutting edge, so to speak, as far as how the organization caters to advertisers looking to have a presence on game telecasts on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Those telecasts, by the way, are rapidly gaining in viewership -- the rating for Blackhawks games on CSNC in October this year averaged a 1.6, up 60 percent from last year's 1.0 rating in October.

Jay Blunk, the team's vice president of business operations, approached CSNC management earlier this year about incorporating virtual advertising into Blackhawks telecasts, and a deal was struck. The cable channel and the team both solicit advertisers, and the two entities split all virtual ad revenue 50/50. Virtual advertising is visible only to viewers watching the Blackhawks on television. Anyone in the stands at the United Center is unaware of its presence. Which is a good thing because the virtual ads are inserted on the protective clear plexiglass barrier surrounding the ice.

Only the Blackhawks and the New York Rangers, among all NHL teams, have inked deals for virtual advertising so far. Sylvania and the Illinois Lottery are the two principal advertisers currently using the virtual ad technology during Blackhawks telecasts. A Blackhawks virtual billboard that provides information about the team also is occasionally visible. Another virtual billboard that appears during the third-period promotes "Blackhawks Post-Game Live" on CSNC.

Left wing Bryan Bickell was a plus-2 after getting his third call-up of the season Sunday. He's still scoreless with the Hawks. ... Bickell got the call because Kris Versteeg suffered an upper-body injury in Friday's victory over Toronto. ''He's day-to-day,'' coach Joel Quenneville said. ''We think it's very short-term. He could be back at practice on Tuesday.'' ... Quenneville also opted to sit Andrew Ebbett and use Jordan Hendry as a winger again. ... Sunday's second Heritage Night honored Jeremy Roenick, who was drafted eighth overall by the Hawks in 1988 and started his 20-year NHL career in Chicago. The Hawks eventually traded him to Phoenix in a 1997 deal that brought Alex Zhamnov to Chicago. Roenick completed his playing career with the Sharks last season. ... The Sharks moved into a tie with the Hawks for the NHL lead in penalty-killing after Saturday's 3-1 win at St. Louis. Both entered Sunday's game with an 87.5 kill percentage, the Sharks having killed 10 of 80 and the Hawks 8 of 64. On Sunday, the Sharks killed both Hawks power plays while going 1-for-4 with the man advantage. ... The 12-year, $62.8 million contract Marian Hossa signed with the Hawks on July 1 was one of several long-term deals discussed at last week's NHL general managers meeting in Toronto. Critics say long-term deals such as those given to Hossa, Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg were designed to circumvent the NHL salary cap because little money will be paid in the final years. ''I don't pay attention to that,'' Hossa said. He'll finally make his Hawks debut on the upcoming six-game road trip, though which game is still to be determined. ... The traditional late-November road trip has been challenging for the Hawks, but they're not afraid of it this time. ''Our attitude isn't going to change,'' captain Jonathan Toews said. ''We'll take it one game at a time. We're not going to think of it as a long road trip because if you do that, it'll look like an insurmountable battle. We've always found a way to focus well on the road, and we've found a way to win in other teams' buildings.''

Len Ziehm

]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:01 CST http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1886616,CST-SPT-hawknt16.article http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1886020,blackhawks-sharks-111509.article

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01
ASSOCIATED PRESS


Cristobal Huet makes a save, despite San Jose Sharks' Patrick Marleau crashing into him during the first period.
(AP)

Brent Seabrook scored 41 seconds into overtime, lifting the Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night, Chicago's seventh consecutive home victory.

The Blackhawks went 4-0 on a homestand that included games against the Western Conference's three top teams -- San Jose, Colorado and Los Angeles. Chicago begins a six-game road trip Thursday night.

Despite the loss, the Sharks extended their streak of games with at least a point to 12 (9-0-3). The NHL's best team with 32 points, San Jose hasn't had a regulation defeat since Oct. 22 at Tampa Bay.

Evgeni Nabokov made a nice save on Troy Brouwer but Jonathan Toews chased down the puck, skated in front of the net and fed Seabrook, who scored from the slot against the helpless Nabokov.

Chicago's Brent Sopel and San Jose's Dany Heatley scored in the first period. It was Heatley's 14th goal, tying him for the NHL lead.

Rookie defenseman Jason Demers scored his first career goal and Patrick Marleau followed 45 seconds later with his league-high ninth road goal to put the Sharks up 3-1 early in the second period.

Midway through the second, Patrick Kane beat Nabokov from the left circle after taking a nice centering feed from Toews. Kane has a seven-game point streak.

San Jose had two chances to regain its two-goal, second-period lead. At 13:43, a video review confirmed the puck didn't cross the goal line after a scramble in front of Chicago goalie Cristobal Huet. About two minutes later, Marleau's shot hit the crossbar.

The Blackhawks capitalized on their good fortune, tying it on John Madden's rebound goal with 1:19 left in the period.

Each goalie made several nice saves in the scoreless third period. Huet ensured the game would go into overtime when he kicked aside Scott Nichol's 30-foot slap shot with 12 seconds left in regulation.

NOTES: Blackhawks LW Kris Versteeg sat out with an undisclosed injury sustained Friday against Toronto. ... The Sharks, who have scored on almost a third of their road power-play opportunities, became the first team in seven games to score with a man-advantage against the Blackhawks. ... The crowd of 21,130 was a United Center season high. ... The Blackhawks honored former All-Star Jeremy Roenick, who finished his 20-year career last season as a member of the Sharks. Roenick scored 267 of his 513 career goals during his eight years with the Blackhawks, who drafted him in 1988.

Forgive Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville for being a bit superstitious considering his team has killed 17 consecutive power plays and hasn't surrendered a power-play goal in six games.

''Knock on wood,'' Quenneville said after a short workout Saturday in preparation for the game tonight against the San Jose Sharks at the United Center. ''The guys are working well together.''

So well, in fact, that the Hawks have been the NHL's top-ranked penalty-killing team for nearly a week. They've been short-handed 64 times and have allowed only eight power-play goals, a kill percentage of 87.5. Last season, the Hawks killed off 80.6 percent of opposing power plays and aimed to improve on that.

''Last year, we were taking a lot more penalties,'' said Colin Fraser, a mainstay on the penalty-killing unit the last two seasons. ''We were getting short-handed five, six times a game, and it's hard to kill that many. The guys were playing more and getting tired. This year, we're taking only two, three penalties a game, and most have been good penalties. There weren't too many bad penalties out there, and you always seem to kill the good ones.''

The Hawks have been short-handed only 64 times in 18 games. The only teams playing short-handed fewer times entering Saturday were the New Jersey Devils (58), Buffalo Sabres (58), Nashville Predators (60), Philadelphia Flyers, (61), Dallas Stars (61) and Florida Panthers (62), and all but the Stars had played fewer games than the Hawks. The Hawks and Devils each had allowed eight power-play goals, fewest in the league.

For Fraser, it's all about ice time. The less time spent on the penalty kill, the better the results.

''Our shifts have been very short, and we've gotten them over very quickly,'' he said. ''Our mind-set is to outwork [the opponent], and we've been doing that.''

Penalty-killing isn't one of the more glamorous parts of hockey, but it creates a niche for players such as Fraser, a fourth-line center and the only Hawks forward to play in more than five games without scoring a goal. But he's contributing to the team's success, a fact underscored by its 9-2-1 home record, best in the NHL. The Hawks have won six in a row at the United Center.

On Wednesday, Fraser became the first Hawk to be assessed two fighting majors in a game when he scuffled with Matt Hendricks and Cody McLeod in a shootout victory against the Colorado Avalanche.

''I feel I've been playing well but not getting it done on the scoresheet, so I figured I'd try to help out in other ways,'' Fraser said. ''I wanted to create some energy.''

The Hawks will need plenty of energy the rest of November. After the game tonight, the Hawks depart on a two-week, six-game road trip. They won't play again at the United Center until Dec. 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Home-ice advantage won't belong to the Blackhawks much longer, but they're certainly enjoying it for the time being.

The Toronto Maple Leafs became the Hawks' sixth straight victim at the United Center on Friday night, falling 3-2 before 21,036 -- the largest crowd of the season.

Only the Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks remain on the current homestand, however. They visit on Sunday, and then the Hawks go on a six-game road trip.

''Winning these games is huge,'' said center John Madden, who was dazzling on faceoffs with 13 wins in 16 tries. ''We need to put up some points before going on the road trip. We need to put some room between us and the other teams. We know how tight our division is.''

A victory Sunday would give the Hawks their first seven-game winning streak on home ice since the 2001-02 season. But the Sharks should present a much bigger challenge than the Leafs (3-9-6), who are 14th among the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. Still, Toronto gave the Hawks all they could handle after falling behind 3-0.

''You can be playing anybody, and if they're down three goals, they're going to put the pressure on,'' said Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith, who had two assists and was the game's No. 1 star.

''You can never relax,'' said winger Troy Brouwer, whose second-period goal turned out to be the game-winner. ''It doesn't matter where a team is in the standings -- it can be dangerous at any time.''

The Hawks jumped on the Leafs quickly, opening a 2-0 first-period lead. Patrick Kane's wrist shot from between the circles opened the scoring 3:22 into the action, an unassisted goal. Then Keith got the second score with a shot that skimmed along the ice all the way from the blue line to Toronto netminder Vesa Toskala.

Toskala, expected to be the Leafs' starter between the pipes this season, returned to the nets after Jonas Gustavsson had started the previous four games and seven of the last eight. Toskala was 0-2-2 with a whopping 5.13 goals-against average and .840 save percentage going into the game, and he didn't help his numbers much Friday, though he played well down the stretch.

The Hawks made it 3-0 when Brouwer redirected Patrick Sharp's shot from the top of the left circle for a power-play goal 5:31 into the second period. It was Brouwer's fifth goal of the season, and it came in the 18th game; last season Brouwer didn't get No. 5 until his 23rd game and the Hawks' 29th. He was playing in Rockford for the first six games.

The Leafs got that one back when a long shot by Phil Kessel got past Hawks goaltender Cristobal Huet with 2:09 left in the second period, and Kessel's second of the night early in the third period turned what once seemed a Hawks' rout into a tight game.

But with Huet (29 saves) playing another solid game, the Hawks stiffened and hung on for the win.

''It was real big,'' Brouwer said. ''We pride ourselves in being a good home team and owning our arena. We're going on a big road trip and need wins because it's hard to win on the road.''

HAWKS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2

The Blackhawks entered the game Friday with the top penalty-killing percentage (87.1) in the NHL. They moved into the No. 1 spot after killing all four of the Avalanche’s power-play opportunities in their 3-2 shootout victory Wednesday, and those successes extended the Hawks’ penalty-killing streak to 15.

It started Oct. 29, and the Hawks had gone five games without allowing a power-play goal before facing the Maple Leafs, who entered the game with the second-best power-play percentage in the league (25.0). It was the highest-ranked power play the Hawks had faced this season.

• The Hawks also led the league in attendance, hosting 103.3 percent of capacity in their first 10 home games.

• The Hawks also might be leading the NHL in faceoff percentage soon. They won 65 percent against the Avalanche and entered play Friday second overall at 54.1.

• In his second game back from a concussion, Jonathan Toews won 17 of 22 faceoffs against the Avalanche, including 10 of 14 in the offensive zone. He ranked third in the NHL (63.4 percent) before the Maple Leafs came to town.

‘‘He’s come back and played two very strong games,’’ coach Joel Quenneville said. ‘‘Last year [after a slow start in which he went 12 games without a goal], he seemed to get better and better every game.’’

Toews has been able to draw a positive from the concussion that caused him to miss six games. ‘‘In a lot of ways, the two-week break was a good thing,’’ he said. ‘‘From a long trip overseas to training camp, everything kind of adds up. You don’t realize until you stop moving for a while how tired you can get.’’

• The Hawks and Maple Leafs now have played 637 times. Despite winning the last five meetings, the Hawks still trail the series 257-284-96, and the Leafs have a 157-121-42 mark in games played in Chicago.

• Quenneville began his 13-season NHL playing career with the Maple Leafs in 1978. ‘‘Seems like yesterday,’’ he said. ‘‘I was very fortunate to start with Toronto. It was a great place to play, a proud organization.’’

• Brent Seabrook will host his second annual celebrity ICE Bowl at 10pin Bowling Lounge, 330 N. State, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. today. The event is a fund-raiser for the Inner City Education Program. Toews, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, Brian Campbell and Troy Brouwer are among the other Hawks scheduled to participate.

• Dave Bolland officially was placed on injured reserve after having back surgery Tuesday.

- Len Ziehm

Patrick Kane got Chicago started with an early unassisted goal, and the Blackhawks held on after building a three-goal lead to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 Friday night for their third straight win.

Cristobal Huet made 29 saves in Chicago's sixth straight home win.

Phil Kessel's second goal of the game, 5:33 into the final period, pulled Toronto to 3-2.

Troy Brouwer and Duncan Keith also scored the Blackhawks.

Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien insist that the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the United Center is just another regular-season game.

For them, though, it might be a bit more than that.

They're on the preliminary Team USA roster for February's Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Team USA general manager Brian Burke is also the Leafs' GM, and the Team USA coach is Ron Wilson, in his first season directing the Leafs.

Tonight's game is the only meeting between the Hawks and Leafs before the final Team USA roster is announced Jan. 1, so it may be the best opportunity for Kane and Byfuglien to impress the Team USA leadership. Neither player wants to think of it that way, but Hawks coach Joel Quenneville is leery.

''There's always incentive for those guys who think they're being watched, but they can't worry about that,'' Quenneville said Thursday. ''Playing hockey is the motivation. You can't have that in the back of your mind. It could be distracting.''

Kane appears to be a shoo-in for Team USA, while Byfuglien could be on the bubble. Both went through a summer orientation camp at Seven Bridges in Woodridge, and Kane also participated in an Olympic media summit in Toronto. He got to know Wilson then.

''We had some fun together,'' Kane said. ''Him and Brian Burke feed off each other. When they're together, it's pretty comical to listen to, and that's a good way to have it. If [Wilson] wants to speak his mind, good for him.''

Byfuglien hasn't had such close contact with the Team USA leadership.

''[The selection of the team] isn't that far off, but I haven't heard anything,'' Byfuglien said. ''I don't think anybody's been talking to anyone. Guys are trying to play their best.''

Kane has a five-game point streak and leads the Hawks with 12 assists and 17 points. Byfuglien is tied for the team lead with six goals, and he delivered eight hits in Wednesday's 3-2 shootout victory over Colorado -- the Hawks' fifth straight win on home ice.

There's no formal tryout, so the Olympic selectors will make their picks based on what happens in the first three months of the season.

''They told us everyone would get an opportunity,'' Byfuglien said. ''It's just a matter of how you're playing at the time.''

Both, though, want to be among the chosen.

''Making an Olympic team any time is an honor, and something to take pride in,'' Byfuglien said.

But tonight's game isn't a chance to showcase himself, Byfuglien insists.

''It's another game where I'll play my game and do what I can to contribute to the team,'' Byfuglien said. ''My family will say, every now and then, 'What do you hear [about the Olympics]?' I'll say, 'Nothing.' I'm just enjoying playing with the guys I'm playing with now.''

Thursday's practice had one unusual touch. Marian Hossa took light contact for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in July. He'll have another similar session this week and expects to take full contact next week when the team takes off on its six-game road trip to Canada and California.

Sure, these are tough economic times. Just don't tell the NHL or, more specifically, the Blackhawks.

According to a Forbes magazine report released this week, the NHL had its most profitable year in 2008-09 and team values rose $3 million to an average of $223 million.

The Hawks, however, increased in value the most. They had ranked 14th in 2007-08, with a value of $205 million. Last year, their value climbed to $258 million -- a whopping 26 percent increase. So, the Hawks now rank seventh in financial value among the 30 NHL teams.

While that represents a big climb, the Hawks are still last among the circuit's Original Six franchises, those that date back to the first faceoffs in 1926. The Hawks' next opponent tonight at the United Center, the Toronto Maple Leafs, are the circuit's most valuable team at $470 million.

Trailing the Leafs are the New York Rangers at $416 million, the Montreal Canadiens at $339 million, the Detroit Red Wings at $337 million, the Philadelphia Flyers at $273 million (not part of the Original Six) and the Boston Bruins at $271 million.

The lowest-valued team, according to Forbes, was the Phoenix Coyotes, who filed for bankruptcy in May. The Coyotes were valued at $138 million, but the NHL recently purchased the franchise for $140 million.

Long, nail-biting games have become commonplace when the Blackhawks face the Colorado Avalanche, and Wednesday's meeting at the United Center was typical of that.

For the third time in as many meetings the two teams went to a shootout, but at least this one wasn't as long as the others. The Hawks needed just their three shooters to claim a 3-2 win -- their fifth straight victory at the United Center in a game played before 20,879, the 61st home sellout in a row.

''We finished them off real early compared to the other games,'' said captain Jonathan Toews, the first Hawk to convert in the shootout. Patrick Sharp was the other.

It was another long night against the Avalanche, who lead the Northwest Division and have squared off against the Hawks three times in the first 17 games of the season. Their fourth and final meeting isn't until April 9.

Their first meeting went nine rounds into a shootout -- the longest in Hawks' history -- and the second went eight rounds. Both were decided by 4-3 scores, the Hawks winning the first on Oct. 10 and the Avalanche the second last Friday.

''Just a coincidence,'' Hawks goaltender Cristobal Huet said. ''It's not that often that you go that deep in a shootout against the same team. They were entertaining games for the fans to watch, and shootouts are part of the game now. A point is on the line, so they're very important and fun when you win.''

Wednesday's shootout, though shorter in duration, produced the desired fun result.

''You'd rather get two points in regulation, but it sure is exciting when a game does go to a shootout,'' Hawks' winger Patrick Kane said.

Wojtek Wolski, Colorado's first shooter, put a shot off the post -- the third Avalanche shot to strike iron from the final minute of the third period. Toews put the Hawks ahead, then Marek Svatos tied it.

Colorado goaltender Craig Anderson, the ex-Hawk, blocked Kane's attempt and Cristobal Huet blocked Darcy Tucker's attempt before Sharp delivered his game-winner. He went high with a forehand shot after faking Anderson off his feet. Sharp had been 0-for-3 in shootouts.

''I had better puck control this time,'' Sharp said. ''These were huge points for us. We've got to take advantage of home ice.''

In regulation, the Avalanche scored first when Kyle Cumiskey banked a shot from beside the goal off Huet and into the net 9:44 into the game. The Hawks tied it on Kane's wrist shot from the right circle five minutes later.

Wolski claimed a loose puck in front of the Hawks' net and slipped it past Huet for an unassisted goal 13:10 into the second period. The Hawks tied it 4:58 into the third on a dazzling play by defenseman Cam Barker. He got the puck from teammate Colin Fraser deep in the Hawks' zone and took off along the right board. Barker passed off the boards to himself to shake Colorado defenseman Kyle Quincey before beating Anderson on a breakaway.

''We stuck with it and got a little momentum in the third,'' Barker said. ''Those [shootout] points add up at the end of the season, and we don't want to give those up.''

HAWKS 3, AVALANCHE 2

Sure, these are tough economic times. Just don’t tell the NHL or, more specifically, the Blackhawks. According to a Forbes magazine report released this week the NHL had its most profitable year in 2008-09 and team values rose $3million to an average of $223 million.

The Hawks, however, increased in value the most. They had ranked 14th in 2007-08 with a value of $205 million. Last year their value climbed to $258 million -- a whopping 26 percent increase. So, the Hawks now rank seventh in financial value among the 30 NHL teams.

While that represents a big climb the Hawks are still last among the circuit’s Original Six franchises, those that date back to the first faceoffs in 1926. The Hawks’ next opponent on Friday night at the United Center, the Toronto Maple Leafs, are the circuit’s most valuable team at $470 million.

Trailing the Leafs are the New York Rangers at $416 million, the Montreal Canadiens at $339 million, the Detroit Red Wings at $337 million and the Boston Bruins at $271 million.

One non-Original Six team, the Philadelphia Flyer, also slipped ahead of the Hawks with a value of $273 million. While the Hawks showed the biggest increase in value, other teams made significant jumps as well. The Washington Capitals climbed 15 percent to $183 million thanks largely to the presence of Alex Ovechkin, the league’s most valuable player, and the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins climbed 14 percent to $222 million.

Teams showing the largest drops in value were led by the Colorado Avalanche, down 11 percent to $205 million, and the Atlanta Thrashers, down 10 percent to $143 million. The lowest valued team according to Forbes was the Phoenix Coyotes, who filed for bankruptcy in May. The Coyotes were valued at $138 million but the NHL recently purchased the franchise for $140 million.

The Blackhawks resumed their Heritage Night series with Bobby Hull as the honoree. It climaxed a big week for the Golden Jet, who spent 15 of his 16 NHL seasons with the Hawks and is the franchise's all-time leader in goals (604). His son Brett joined him in the Hockey Hall of Fame at ceremonies Monday in Toronto, making them the first father-son team to be inducted. Jeremy Roenick is the next Heritage honoree, on Sunday when his last team -- the San Jose Sharks -- visits

. General manager Stan Bowman said other teams aren't coming at him with trade offers during league meetings in Toronto since Dave Bolland's back surgery on Tuesday left the Hawks without their second-line center for at least three months. ''It doesn't work that way,'' Bowman said. ''Rather than a lot of discussions, there was more commiserating, because there are a lot of teams with injury trouble. They're feeling for you because they're going through the same thing.''

The Hawks wore special camouflage jerseys during warmups for the first time in franchise history. They did it on Veterans Day as part of the Boeing ''Salute to the Military'' event. The jerseys were autographed by the players and will be auctioned online at chicagoblackhawks.com until next Wednesday. All proceeds will benefit the USO of Illinois

. Marian Hossa is ready for the next step in his recovery from shoulder surgery. He'll participate in contact drills for the first time at either today's practice or Friday's morning skate

. The Hawks went into Wednesday's game on a four-game streak of not allowing their opponents a power-play goal. The Hawks rank second in the NHL in penalty killing (86.2 percent). ''The guys have been very assertive in our zone, blocking shots, coming up with loose pucks, winning faceoffs,'' coach Joel Quenneville said. ''[Penalty killing] is one area we had to get better at this year, and we've done that

. The six hits Troy Brouwer delivered in Monday's win over Los Angeles gave him 49, 11th best in the NHL. The physical play also helped him to a three-point night, the second by a Hawk this season. Patrick Kane had the first. ''For me, it all revolves around my hits,'' Brouwer said. ''If you look at games where I have five-six hits, they're my best games of the season. When I'm down to one-two hits I'm not too effective.''

Len Ziehm

The Blackhawks lost Marian Hossa and Adam Burish to surgery even before they played their first regular season game. Now they’ve got their first surgery patient of the regular season.

Dave Bolland, the second-line center and a key player in last season’s run to the Western Conference finals, underwent back surgery Tuesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr. Richard Fessler performed the surgery under the supervision of head team physician Michael Terry, who called it ``minimally invasive for a herniated disk.’’

Terry said the surgery went well, that a full recovery was anticipated after a recovery period of 12-16 weeks. While a blow to the club, the surgery decision wasn’t surprising. Bolland coped with a back problem most of last season but wasn’t as successful in the first 16 games of this one.

``It was something he was dealing with throughout most of last year,’’ said coach Joel Quenneville following Tuesday’s practice , ``and he wasn’t comfortable at the start of this year. We tried a lot of different things.’’

That included giving Bolland considerable time off the ice when the rest of the team was practicing, but nothing helped.

Last season -- Bolland’s first full one in the NHL -- he played in 81 of 82 regular season games and all 17 playoff games. He had 47 points and was a plus-19 in the regular season while contributing on both power play and penalty killing situations as well as with his five-on-five play.

``Bolly was very effective, useful in so many ways,’’ said Quenneville. ``He played a lot of quality minutes, and now this is a great opportunity for a lot of guys. We’ve got a lot of forwards who would like to play more and deserve to play more.’’

Signs that Bolland might have a problem surfaced before training camp even opened in September. He was held out of a Hawks-sponsored golf event for fear he might do damage to his back. He also was kept out of much of training but did start the season in the lineup.

Following the first two games in Finland he was held out of Game 3 in Detroit because of a sore back, then he played the next 11 before sitting out the last two before surgery.

Even when he was playing it was obvious Bolland wasn’t himself. He had two goals, four assists, 14 penalty minutes and was a plus-3 in his 13 games. Still, replacing Bolland won’t be easy.

``We’ve been playing without some of our key guys all season. We’ll adapt,’’ said captain Jonathan Toews, who just needed a six-game layoff to recover from a concussion. ``Obviously (Bolland) brought a lot to the table. He’s a great two-way forward. But we’ve just got to fill that void.

Toews’ return to the lineup on Monday alleviated the immediate loss of Bolland. With Toews back to centering for the top line and Colin Fraser a fixture in the middle on the fourth line, the second could have either John Madden, Andrew Ebbett or converted winger Kris Versteeg as the center in tonight’s home game against the Colorado Avalanche.

It’ll probably be Ebbett centering for wingers Patrick Kane and Kris Versteeg. That line is small, but fast and it had good chemistry when Quenneville put it together early in Monday’s 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Ebbett was claimed on waivers from Anaheim on Oct. 17 and has bounced around the Hawks’ lineup.

``He’s had some good stretches. We tried him on wing and worked him back to center again,’’ said Quenneville. ``He played with a couple good players (on Monday) and that line was dangerous. All three can make or see plays and have patience with the puck.’’

Ebbett, the second-line center for Anaheim last season, was tried as a fourth-line winger after joining the Hawks. He moved to a center spot when Toews went out, then dropped back when the captain returned. Versteeg was tried at center and handled faceoffs on Monday, a game in which Ebbett finally scored his first point as a Hawk on a fluke goal.

``It was nice that one went in, even if it was off my shoulder and not even off my stick,’’ said Ebbett. ``It took a load off my shoulders, but sometimes that’s how you get out of a slump.’’

Ebbett was frustrated with his own play on last week’s road trip to Phoenix and Denver, but the line change revived him.

``Playing with Kaner and Versteeg makes it a pretty easy game for me,’’ said Ebbett. ``I played with fast guys with a give-and-go style in Anaheim. They keep the puck moving and don’t hang onto it too long and get pucks to the net. That’s what I enjoy.’’

Assuming that line remains intact the other top three lines will have Toews centering for Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien and Madden having Troy Brouwer and Andrew Ladd as his wingers.

Apparently all it took to get the Blackhawks' power play working was the return of Jonathan Toews.

The team captain returned from a six-game layoff to recover from a concussion and was on the ice for two third-period goals with the man advantage. Toews scored the second of the two, and they led to a solid 4-1 victory Monday over the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center.

Until the third-period explosion, the Hawks had converted on three of their previous 33 power plays, a streak stretching back to the Oct. 15.

It was 1-1 when Troy Brouwer scored on the first power play 93 seconds into the third period. Toews' goal followed at 5:04, thanks to a good bounce off the boards.

''I was coming out of the corner, and the puck happened to pop out,'' Toews said. ''For the first game back it was nice to get a break like that.''

Andrew Ebbett's first goal as a Hawk -- he was picked up on waivers from Anaheim on Oct. 17 -- completed a big third period that provided an encouraging start to a four-game homestand.

The Hawks started the season 7-3-1 but were 1-2-1 in four games entering Monday. The power-play unit was 2-for-20 in those games and 4-for-35 at home, ranking 28th in the league in that category until going 2-for-3 on Monday.

''A lot of the games we lost the last couple weeks were low-scoring games, and we struggled on the power play so that could have been the difference in those games,'' Toews said.

Troy Brouwer was on the scoresheet more than Toews, getting two assists in addition to his game-winner. Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp also assisted twice.

In addition to regaining Toews, who played more than 19 minutes and won 13 of 20 faceoffs, the Hawks benefitted from the return of fourth-line tough guy Ben Eager. Out 13 games with a concussion, he got into a brief first-period skirmish -- an quick indication that he'll be a physical presence again.

''Both those guys can help us in a lot of ways,'' coach Joel Quenneville said of Toews and Eager.

''It's never fun to sit out,'' Eager said, ''and it seemed like I'd been out forever. I'd just been showing up at the rink and not doing much, so I was excited to be back.''

And the Hawks were excited to have him against a team that was 3-0-1 in its previous four road games.

''They're a good team, and we played a very good game across the board,'' Quenneville said. ''This is an important stretch for us, an opportunity to get some momentum back.''

The Hawks, 0-1-1 in two road games last week after a five-day break, got on the scoreboard first on a pretty play. Keith retrieved the puck in the Hawks' zone, sent it to Brouwer streaking down the middle and Brouwer shoved it to John Madden on the right side. His backhander got by Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick 64 seconds into the second period.

Anze Kopitar's 14th goal and league-leading 28th point tied the game 9:10 into the period. The play started with Drew Doughty shooting from the blue line. Hawks' goaltender Cristobal Huet was screened, but the puck hit him. That created an easy rebound for Kopitar to poke the puck in.

It was Huet's first career win over the Kings. He had lost two starts and had a 4.03 goals-against average against them before stopping 17 of 18 shots Monday.

BLACKHAWKS 4, KINGS 1

The health report on second-line center Dave Bolland isn’t encouraging. ‘‘He hasn’t made any progress,’’ coach Joel Quenneville reported Monday after the morning skate. Bolland missed his third game and has been off the ice for four consecutive days with back problems. He’s still listed as day-to-day, but Quenneville said Bolland is on ‘‘a slower program — just more rest right now.’’

With Jonathan Toews and Ben Eager back in the lineup, Jordan Hendry was no longer needed as a fill-in winger on the fourth line. Normally a defenseman, Hendry was the Hawks’ lone healthy scratch. He had played in the previous seven games.

The crowd of 20,293 extended the Hawks’ string of sellouts at the United Center to 61, including the postseason.

The Hawks entered the game leading the NHL with a 10.5 shot differential (33.2 shots per game against 22.7 allowed). Since 2005-06, one team, the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings (10.9), had a better shot differential over an entire season.

The Hawks and Kings entered the game ranked 1-2 in the NHL in shots allowed. The Kings had allowed 26.1 per game.

Even with Toews missing six games, the Hawks ranked second in faceoff winning percentage (53.8) entering Monday. Toews ranked fourth at 61.1 and John Madden ninth at 56.6. Colin Fraser got his percentage over 50 by winning 9 of 10 draws in the shootout loss Friday at Colorado.

Marian Hossa’s Hawks’ debut is still about three weeks away, but the best-paid player in franchise history is making an impact during his recovery from shoulder surgery. ‘‘He enhances the skill level and the pace of our practices,’’ Quenneville said.

Before the game, the Hawks hosted an equipment drive to benefit Inner City Education Program and AHAI Diversity Hockey, with Chicago Steel players and their coach, ex-Hawk Steve Poapst, collecting the gear. The Steel will host a similar drive Nov. 20 at The Edge in Bensenville before a game against Waterloo.

The Rockford IceHogs, the Hawks’ top farm team, endured an American Hockey League-record seven-game road winless streak before winning at Abbotsford on Saturday. Now the IceHogs, who played 12 of their first 17 games on enemy ice, play six in a row at the Rockford MetroCentre, beginning on Friday against Texas.

Corey Crawford, who was edged out by Antti Niemi as the Hawks’ backup goaltender in training camp, has a challenge at Rockford. Backup Joe Fallon has a dazzling .963 save percentage over his last three games.

Jonathan Toews and Troy Brouwer scored power-play goals in a 3:31 span early in the third period Monday night, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Toews had been out with a concussion since Vancouver's Willie Mitchell leveled him on Oct. 21. The Blackhawks lost three of six games without their captain, who had a team-high 34 goals last season.

Anze Kopitar scored his 14th goal for the Kings, tying injured Washington star Alex Ovechkin for the NHL lead. Although Los Angeles ranks third in the league with 58 goals, it has scored only once in each of its last two games, both losses. The losing streak followed a 6-0-2 stretch that put the Kings near the top of the Western Conference standings.

The Blackhawks held the Kings to 18 shots, including two in the third period.

It was a 1-1 game until 1:33 of the third period, when Brouwer, standing to the right of goalie Jonathan Quick, deflected Patrick Sharp's pass into the net.

At 5:04, Sharp poked the puck away from defenseman Matt Greene in the left circle and Brouwer fed Toews, who scored on a backhander from the slot.

Toews, who also was on the ice for Brouwer's goal, energized a Chicago power play that had converted on only three of its last 33 attempts. The Blackhawks had scored only four man-advantage goals at home all season.

Andrew Ebbett, claimed off waivers from Anaheim last month, scored his first goal with the Blackhawks with 10:40 to play.

John Madden gave Chicago a 1-0 lead 1:04 into the second period. Kopitar tied it about eight minutes later when he scored on a rebound after Cristobal Huet had kicked aside Drew Doughty's shot from the point.

Kopitar leads the league with 28 points. He and linemates Ryan Smyth and Justin Williams have 51 points in their 13 games together.

NOTES: The victory gave the Blackhawks a 73-72-21 lead in the all-time series against the Kings. ... Blackhawks LW Ben Eager was activated from injured reserve after missing 13 games with a concussion. ... It took Kopitar 50 games to get his 14th goal last season. ... Blackhawks C Dave Bolland was out with a back injury.

It wasn't a done deal after practice Sunday, but Jonathan Toews and Ben Eager are poised to return to the Blackhawks' lineup for the game tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center.

Dave Bolland is another matter. The second-line center couldn't skate with the team for the second consecutive day because of his chronically sore back. Coach Joel Quenneville said Bolland is ''still day-to-day,'' but shutting him down for either a lengthy rest or surgery is looming as an option.

''We'll see. That's not where we're at right now,'' Quenneville said.

Kris Versteeg again would move from wing to center if Bolland can't play.

Toews, who has missed six games while recovering from a concussion, skated with linemates Dustin Byfuglien and Patrick Sharp and worked on the power play.

''It'll be a game-time decision, but the good thing is I'm getting better every day,'' Toews said. ''I'm pretty confident. I felt good on the ice. It didn't take too long to get my conditioning back.''

''He looked better and ratcheted things up to a different level,'' Quenneville said. ''We'll see how he is in the morning.''

Toews could find no negatives after the workout Sunday.

''I like to think I can do it all,'' he said. ''I've got my energy back. After a couple weeks off it takes awhile to get your rhythm back, and it definitely feels like it's back. Today was a big step, for sure.''

The Hawks need their captain, though not as much as they did two seasons ago when he missed 16 games with a sprained knee. The Hawks were 5-9-2 without him and wound up missing the playoffs by three points.

During his absence this season, the Hawks went 3-2-1, but their offense suffered. With Toews playing in the first nine games, the Hawks scored 31 goals. Without him in the last six they've scored 12. The power play converted seven of 34 chances before Toews was flattened by Vancouver Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell on Oct. 21. Since then, the Hawks are 3-for-27.

''It's one of those things that snowballs,'' Toews said of the power-play slump. ''It's little details when you don't see results. It just takes a little push here and there. For us, it's just about putting one in there and not forcing things too much. Hopefully, I can contribute to getting this back on track.''

Eager, also a concussion victim, missed the last 13 games but returned to practice before Toews. He rejoined the fourth line, with linemates Colin Fraser and Tomas Kopecky, and handled contact situations well.

''Ben felt real good, and there's a good chance he'll play tomorrow,'' Quenneville said.

The game against the Kings starts a four-game homestand, and the Hawks need to pile up some points before embarking on a six-game road trip to conclude November. After facing the Kings, the Hawks face the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday and the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.

''We'll take it one game at a time,'' Quenneville said. ''We've got to take advantage of playing at home and get some momentum back in our game.''

Stan Bowman will attend his first NHL general managers meeting this week in Toronto as the Blackhawks' GM. The groundwork for trades often is created at the meeting, but after the Hawks went 8-4-1 in October, it didn't seem Bowman would be very interested in tweaking his roster.

But after two road losses in November, during which the Hawks will play eight road games, things might be different. The Hawks have a potential problem that won't be fixed by waiting for center Jonathan Toews and wingers Ben Eager and Marian Hossa to return from injuries.

Dave Bolland, the second-line center who helps the club in many ways, has a nagging back problem that is being closely watched. Last year, Bolland's first full season in the NHL, it hardly was noticeable; he played in 81 regular-season games and all 17 playoff games.

Then something happened. Coach Joel Quenneville said there was ''no defining blow,'' but Bolland's back wasn't right before training camp started. The club even kept him out of a golf outing a week before camp.

Bolland was off the ice for much of camp. On Oct. 8, he was held out of a game at Detroit, and Quenneville has given Bolland frequent days off from practice. He still had to miss the 4-3 shootout loss Friday at Colorado.

It was fortunate that Bowman was able to claim Andrew Ebbett off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks early in the season. Bowman wanted Ebbett to bolster the fourth line, which was missing Eager (concussion) and Adam Burish (knee surgery). Ebbett has been a center most of his career, but the Hawks believed he would be a capable winger as well.

There's no telling if they were right because soon after Ebbett put on his Hawks sweater, Toews went out with a concussion that has sidelined him for six games. Ebbett moved from the fourth line to the second, and Quenneville has praised his work there even though he hasn't tallied a point in seven games as a Hawk.

Toews might be back for the game Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center, but that wouldn't alleviate the Hawks' concern at center. Bowman has been filling only winger spots in his call-ups (Bryan Bickell, Jack Skille, Jake Dowell), so there must not be a center candidate at Rockford. Now might be the time to start looking for one.

The Hawks have other problems. Their power play needs help, with Dustin Byfuglien's goal at Colorado only the third with the man-advantage in the last 34 opportunities. Overall, the Hawks have sputtered offensively with Toews out, scoring only 12 goals in the six games he has missed compared to 31 in the nine he has played.

Eager's return, also expected this week, should improve the Hawks' toughness, which has been lacking on occasion in the 13 games Eager has missed. And, of course, Hossa will be back soon. But there is the danger of expecting him to carry too big of a load too soon. The Hawks don't want that.

So, for the time being, Bowman should be on the prowl for another center -- maybe even one who could help on the power play, just in case.

DENVER -- The Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche appear destined to play long games. They went nine rounds into a shootout in the Hawks' first game at the United Center this season before the Hawks pulled out a victory, and Friday the shootout went eight tension-packed rounds.

The Avalanche took this one 4-3, with Chris Stewart making the decisive conversion before Dustin Byfuglien shot wide on his attempt to send the shootout to a ninth round. The Hawks couldn't feel too bad. They salvaged a point against the top team in the Western Conference without their top two centers.

It was bad enough that the Hawks had to play their last six games without top-line center Jonathan Toews. On Friday, they also had to do without second-line center Dave Bolland, who has been nursing a sore back.

The point pulled the Hawks even with Columbus for the lead in the Central Division.

''In a shootout anything can happen,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''Our guys played hard. They did a lot of good things.''

Toews, recovering from a two-week layoff caused by a concussion, skated for the third straight day during the morning skate but still wasn't ready for game duty. Neither was fourth-line winger Ben Eager, also a concussion victim, who missed his 13th straight game. Quenneville said Toews and Eager could return to the lineup in one of the home games this week.

Bolland's back ailment has been a seasonlong thing, and more substantial treatment might be needed.

''We'll see. There was no defining blow,'' Quenneville said of Bolland's most recent flareup. ''We'll see how he is on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes he has some good days.''

With Toews and Bolland out, the Hawks used Kris Versteeg as a center along with John Madden, Andrew Ebbett and Colin Fraser. Bryan Bickell was called up from Rockford to fill a winger's spot.

Quenneville opted for rookie Antti Niemi in goal, his first game since Oct. 21. Cristobal Huet started the previous five games.

''There's no controversy with us,'' Quenneville said. ''Huet had a nice stretch with back-to-back games and Niemi played well every time he was in there. This gives him a good chance.''

The Hawks staked Niemi to a two-goal lead in the first period, with Byfuglien scoring on their first power-play opportunity and Duncan Keith tallying off Versteeg's feed from behind the net. Versteeg also had a helper on Byfuglien's goal. Patrick Kane assisted on both of the first-period scores.

Ryan O'Reilly cut the lead in half when he scored during a scramble in front of Niemi with 1:22 left in the period. David Jones tied it with a short-handed goal 7:43 into the second.

Jones' shorty, in which he skated around Byfuglien before putting the puck past Niemi, started a horrid two minutes for the Hawks.

Just as that power play was ending, the Avalanche scored again, O'Reilly getting his second goal on a breakaway in which he scored off his own rebound. Then Niemi toughened, and the Avs' lead didn't last long. The Hawks rallied for a 3-3 tie on Andrew Ladd's tap-in. The play started with Sharp blasting the puck from the left circle and Anderson leaving a bad rebound that set up Ladd.

''[Niemi] battled. He stood his ground when Colorado came at us pretty hard,'' Quenneville said.

After a scoreless third period and overtime, the Hawks took the lead in the shootout when Kane converted as the second shooter. Niemi couldn't stop Colorado's third man, Marek Svatos, and there was no further scoring until Stewart's game-winner.

AVALANCHE 4, HAWKS 3

]]> Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:01 CST http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1870752,CST-SPT-hawknt07.article http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1868529,CST-SPT-hawk06.article
Dominating vs. Phoenix? That was so last year
Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:01
BY LEN ZIEHM lziehm@suntimes.com


Phoenix Coyotes' Peter Mueller (88) scores against Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet.
(AP)

COYOTES 3, BLACKHAWKS 1

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Blackhawks owned the Phoenix Coyotes last season, winning all four meetings and outscoring them 13-1 in the last two.

That was last year.

In the first meeting of this season Thursday night, the Hawks -- showing signs of rust from a five-day break from games and hampered by a feeble power play -- were soundly beaten by the Coyotes 3-1 at Jobing.com Arena.

Plagued with financial problems that led to declaring bankruptcy, the Coyotes now are owned by the NHL. They no longer have the legendary Wayne Gretzky as their coach, either.

''But they're a better team -- deeper, balanced,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''They've got a mobile defense and good goaltending.''

''They're a different team -- different players, different coach [Dave Tippett] -- but by no means did we play our best game,'' Hawks defenseman Cam Barker said.

No doubt about that.

Going 0-for-6 on the power play, the Hawks didn't score until the Coyotes had all their goals. After losing six straight to the Hawks over two seasons, the Coyotes boosted their record to 10-6-0 this year -- even though their fans haven't responded to the improvement. They had 5,855 for a Monday game against Los Angeles and a half-filled arena (10,362) Thursday.

Phoenix lost 4-1 at Colorado on Wednesday night while the Hawks waited for the Coyotes to get back in town, but they came more ready to play than the Hawks did. The Coyotes' schedule overload (they're in the midst of playing 10 games in 17 nights) didn't show up in the first period, when Phoenix took a 2-0 lead and silenced the Hawks on three power plays.

Hawks defenseman Brent Sopel slipped in the left circle 2:54 into the game, allowing Martin Hanzal to put the Coyotes ahead with a shot inside the far post against goaltender Cristobal Huet, who started his fifth straight game. Peter Mueller's rebound goal on Hanzal's shot off Huet's pads made it 2-0 11:55 into the game.

The second period wasn't much better. Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane failed to convert on breakaways 25 seconds apart in the third minute, and the Coyotes made it 3-0 on Scottie Upshall's shot from the left circle seven minutes later. But the Hawks got on the board on Kris Versteeg's short-handed goal three minutes after that with a steal and feed by Kane setting it up.

Otherwise, the Hawks were a lethargic bunch following their second-longest break from games this season. The only longer one will be in February, when the NHL pauses for the Winter Olympics.

''[The five-day break] didn't help,'' Quenneville said. ''Our game had holes in it technically and energy-wise. A couple delays in switches slowed us down a bit. That can happen.''

''But we score on half our opportunities, and it's a different game,'' Versteeg said. ''Realistically, last year we could have come back on them, but this year they're more aware defensively. They're a hard team to play against.''

The Hawks had hoped to have captain Jonathan Toews available. He was on the ice for the second consecutive day at the morning skate but ended up a scratch for the fifth straight game while recovering from a concussion. His status for tonight's game in Denver against the Avalanche is uncertain.

''Every day gets better, but I've only been two days back on the ice, so it's more than about feeling good,'' Toews said. ''I feel great out there. I feel like myself -- but when you're off two weeks, you've got to get your legs back. We'll take it day-by-day, just as we have for the last couple weeks. Today was better than yesterday, and hopefully tomorrow will be the same.''

Ben Eager, who missed his 12th straight game after battling a concussion, skated in the morning as well, and the Hawks should get him back soon, too.

''Eager needs more contact, but he's very, very close,'' Quenneville said. ''I like their progress. It's very encouraging.''

The Blackhawks’ first fathers trip has been fun, according to all reports halfway through the event. The Hawks contingent arrived in Phoenix on Tuesday with 18 of the players’ fathers and one grandfather (Duncan Keith’s) in the group. They enjoyed a golf outing, then a group dinner and some pool time before the game in Phoenix. ‘‘It’s exciting having them part of the trip and experiencing our everyday lifestyle,’’ coach Joel Quenneville said. ‘‘It’s been fun meeting new people and getting to know everybody better. And everybody should be proud to play in front of their dads.’’ The dads also will take in the game tonight in Denver.

With Jonathan Toews and Ben Eager still not ready for game action, defenseman Jordan Hendry spent another game as a part-time left wing. General manager Stan Bowman called up Bryan Bickell, Jack Skille and Jake Dowell from Rockford earlier in the season to fill the void but denied the use of Hendry was related to salary-cap considerations. ‘‘It’s not a money thing,’’ Bowman said. ‘‘It’s hard when guys don’t play. We wanted to get [Hendry] into the lineup, and this was an opportunity to do that.’’

Despite two shaky back-to-back showings two weeks ago, Cristobal Huet entered Thursday’s game with the seventh-best goals-against average (2.29) in the NHL, and the Hawks led the Western Conference in goals against (31).

The Hawks hoped getting back on the road would improve their power play. At 9-for-52, the Hawks had dropped to 19th in the NHL’s power-play rankings, but they were 5-for-17 in their previous road games.

No longer are the Hawks the least-penalized team. After being assessed just 90 penalty minutes in their first 10 games, the Hawks took 66 PIMs in the three games leading into the trip to Phoenix. That knocked them down to 11th in penalty minutes per game.

The Coyotes roster included four former Hawks — Adrian Aucoin, Jim Vandermeer, Radim Vrbata and Robert Lang.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- October went just fine for the Blackhawks. They were in first place in the Central Division at the end of the month for the first time since 1992, and they did it with Marian Hossa and Adam Burish out, Ben Eager missing 11 games, Jonathan Toews four, Brent Seabrook two and Dave Bolland one. That's a lot of injury time for so early in the season.

The Hawks got a boost when Toews skated for the first time at practice Wednesday, but his availability for the game tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes won't be determined until the morning skate.

In November, though, we'll find out a lot more about this promising team. The schedule gets much tougher, in large part because of the traditional two-week road trip necessitated by the circus taking over the United Center.

The Hawks have had a winning record in November only three times since 1998, including a 6-4-2 mark last season. The game tonight is the first of eight road games this month. Only four games are at home.

The competition is going to be better right off the bat. Neither the Coyotes nor the Colorado Avalanche, the Hawks' opponent Friday, made the playoffs last season, but both are riding the hottest goaltenders in the NHL. Entering Wednesday, the Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov had a league-high three shutouts, a .930 save percentage and a 1.78 goals-against average. The Avalanche's Craig Anderson, the former Hawk, led the league with 10 victories, and his other stats were similar to Bryzgalov's (.936 save percentage, 2.11 GAA).

''Those two guys are probably the MVPs of the league right now,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Coyotes are a great story. The team had financial problems and filed for bankruptcy. There was a failed attempt to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, and Jerry Reinsdorf was among those who made an offer to purchase it before the NHL took over the franchise last week. Wayne Gretzky resigned as head coach in training camp and was replaced by former Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett. Still, the Coyotes got off to a 9-5 start entering Wednesday.

''[Tippett] did a nice job in a tough situation,'' Quenneville said. ''He put the focus on the ice level, and they've handled that. It must've been a tough training camp, but sometimes you can feed off that and find motivation from playing against all odds.''

The Avalanche also changed coaches, replacing Tony Granato with Joe Sacco, and found a hot goalie.

''From where they were at, I don't think anybody thought of them as a playoff team when the year started,'' Quenneville said, ''but there's a lot of skill and speed on that team.''

General manager Stan Bowman admits it could be a telling month for the team.

''We had the benefit of playing at home for the most part, and we got off to a good start,'' he said, ''but now it's going to get more difficult.''

Tuesday was all about fun and family for the Blackhawks. Departing from their normal travel routine, they took a morning flight from O'Hare to Phoenix, with their fathers on board. In the afternoon they conducted a scramble golf tournament at a Scottsdale resort, the first of several activities planned for the five-day trip that includes games against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday and the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Other NHL teams have held such fatherly ventures, but this was the first for the Hawks. President John McDonough and new general manager Stan Bowman put the trip together, and they invited all rostered players -- even injured ones like Marian Hossa and Adam Burish who are a significant time away from playing in games.

''It's a great opportunity for everybody,'' said coach Joel Quenneville, who experienced a similar trip while coaching the Avalanche. ''It's going to be a fun week, a special, proud moment for everybody.''

Bowman's father Scotty is the Hawks' senior advisor, but Stan Bowman said that had nothing to do with the Hawks getting involved with the project.

''No, he didn't make me do it,'' said Stan Bowman, ''but I got to spend a lot of time with [father Scotty] at last year's playoffs and I really enjoyed it. I'm sure our players will as well.''

In addition to the golf outing and the two games, the fathers will be part of two group dinners and also be on hand at today's practice.

''They'll get to experience everything we do -- going on the road, to different cities,'' said defenseman Cam Barker, whose father is a retired police officer from Winnipeg who now teaches interrogation techniques to college students.

''It's going to be fun for them, and it'll be fun for us spending some time with our dads during the season.''

''It'll be exciting,'' said winger Kris Versteeg. ''We've never done anything like this before. It's going to be cool having all the fathers see their kids up close and personal and in action.''

It's not like the fathers haven't seen their sons play in games before, but this is different.

''My dad's been there since Day 1,'' said Versteeg. ''He coached me a couple years and that didn't work out very well because any time he told me to do something I'd do the opposite.''

''We got a lot of feedback from our players on this,'' said Bowman. ''It was hard to coordinate because a lot of things go into it. We started working on it last year, and spent a lot of time on it last summer.''

Bowman's not worried that the fun aspects might hamper the Hawks in the first two road games of a November that's filled with travel.

''They'll be fine. They'll probably be eager to put on a good performance for their dads,'' he said.

The Blackhawks always have maintained that Jonathan Toews is ''day-to-day'' with concussion-like symptoms, but he still hasn't returned to the ice.

He missed practice Monday at the United Center, and if he misses the next workout Wednesday in Phoenix, he'll have been off the ice for two weeks since he absorbed a thunderous hit from Vancouver Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell on Oct. 21.

''Every day you're hopeful he can get on the ice and be part of it,'' coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Hawks face the Coyotes on Thursday and the Colorado Avalanche on Friday in Denver.

Quenneville had predicted that Toews' injury would be ''short term,'' but two weeks might be stretching that a bit and the progress report doesn't sound as encouraging as it once did.

''As the days go on it fluctuates a little bit, so it's tough to say,'' Quenneville said. ''Sometimes [recovery] takes time. That's where we're at.''

The Hawks have dealt with two other injuries similar to Toews' already this season. Ben Eager, who returned to practice this week, missed 11 games and probably will miss a couple more before he's cleared for full contact. Brent Seabrook, also injured Oct. 21, missed two games.

Though he has participated in off-ice team activities and will travel with the Hawks this week, Toews hasn't been very active and hasn't faced the media since stumbling off the ice against the Canucks.

''He does basically some workouts to find out if he can ratchet it up. That dictates where we're at,'' Quenneville said. ''We're still optimistic that it's short term. That's why we keep saying it's on a day-to-day basis.''

General manager Stan Bowman also said he's ''not too concerned'' as Toews' injury time increases.

''Hopefully he'll be back soon, and it is a day-to-day thing,'' Bowman said. ''These things can turn around quickly. Certainly if it lingers a long time, you'd begin to get worried.''

In the Hawks' last game, a 3-2 victory Friday over the Montreal Canadiens, Andrew Ladd flattened Matt D'Agostini with a hit that sent the Canadien to the dressing room and kept him out of the lineup the next night. The NHL hasn't suspended Ladd, and the Hawks don't expect him to be punished.

NHL general managers likely will discuss hitting at their meeting next week. The Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, the Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Stahl and the Florida Panthers' David Booth also are among those out.

''With all the things that have happened, it's good to have dialogue,'' Bowman said. ''I don't think it matters who gets hurt. Nobody wants to see players get injured, but hockey is a physical game and has been for a long time.''

It has been especially physical in the last couple of weeks.

''There's been a lot of big hits,'' Quenneville said. ''We all like the contact and physicality of our game, but there' s a fine line or balance to be reached.''

NOTE: The Hawks will depart today for Phoenix, with the players' fathers joining the team. There will be no practice today, only a golf outing, and several other social events have been scheduled for the trip.

The Blackhawks have always maintained that Jonathan Toews is ``day to day’’ with his concussion-like symptoms, but the team captain’s time off the ice has dragged on.

He missed Monday’s practice at the United Center and, if he misses the next workout -- on Wednesday in Phoenix, that’ll be two weeks off the ice since he absorbed a thunderous hit from Vancouver defenseman Willie Mitchell in an Oct. 21 game at the United Center.

``Every day you’re hopeful he can get on the ice and be part of it,’’ coach Joel Quenneville said after the last practice prior to this week’s road trip that takes the Hawks to Phoenix and Denver. The Hawks visit the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday and the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Quenneville had predicted that Toews’ injury would be ``short-term,’’ but two weeks might be stretching that a bit and the progress report doesn’t sound as encouraging as it once did.

``As the days go on it fluctuates a little bit, so it’s tough to say,’’ said Quenneville. ``Sometimes (recovery) takes time. That’s where we’re at.’’

The Hawks have dealt with two other injuries similar to Toews’ already this season. Ben Eager, who returned to practice this week, missed 11 games and will probably miss a couple more before he’s cleared for full contact. Brent Seabrook, injured on Oct. 21 -- in the same game as Toews, missed two games.

Though he has participated in off-ice team activities and will go on this week’s road trip Toews hasn’t been very physically active and hasn’t faced the media since stumbling off the ice in the Vancouver game.

``He does basically some workouts to find out if he can ratchet it up. That dictates where we’re at,’’ said Quenneville. ``We’re still optimistic that it’s short-term. That’s why we keep saying it’s on a day to day basis.’’

General manager Stan Bowman also said he’s ``not too concerned’’ as Toews’ injury time increases. ``Hopefully he’ll be back soon, and it is a day to day thing,’’ said Bowman. ``These things can turn around quickly. Certainly if it lingers a long time you’d begin to get worried.’’

Toews’ injury is just one of a number around the NHL that have sidelined top stars recently. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Carolina’s Eric Stahl and Florida’s David Booth are also among those out, and Booth was sidelined following a hit from Mike Richards of Philadelphia. As was the case with Mitchell’s hit on Toews, no action was taken on Richards’ hit on Booth.

In the Hawks’ last game, a 3-2 win over Montreal on Friday, the Hawks’ Andrew Ladd flattened Matt D’Agostini with a hard hit that put the Montreal player out of the game and kept him out of the lineup the following night. The NHL has made no suspension ruling on Ladd, either, and the Hawks don’t expect one to be forthcoming.

But, in part because some of the injured players are high-profile ones, the NHL general managers will likely discuss the hitting issue at their upcoming meeting next week.

``With all the things that have happened, it’s good to have dialog,’’ said Bowman. ``I don’t think it matters who gets hurt. Nobody wants to see players get injured, but hockey is a physical game and has been for a long time.’’

But it’s especially been so in the last couple weeks. ``There’s been a lot of big hits,’’ said Quenneville. ``We all like the contact and physicality of our game, but there’ s a fine line or balance to be reached.’’

In a departure from their normal routine the Hawks depart early today for Phoenix with the fathers’ of the players coming along. There’ll be no practice, only a golf outing, today and several other social events have also been built into the trip.

Concussion is a word rarely uttered in the hockey world, but Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville used it without reservation in describing the problems that kept Ben Eager on the sideline the last four weeks.

Eager went through his first full practice with the Hawks on Sunday and still was reluctant to use the ''C'' word.

''It wasn't so much a concussion as it was leftover effects from last year's long playoff run and not having that long a summer,'' Eager said. ''I didn't feel right when I came back, and I felt I needed some time off.''

Eager played in the first two regular-season games in Europe but said that had no bearing on his health problems.

''I tried to play through it, but I didn't feel myself,'' he said. ''I want to be 100 percent when I'm out there, and taking some time off was the smart thing to do.''

Quenneville could see that Eager wasn't himself in the preseason.

''His level of play wasn't what it was last year, and we found out why,'' Quenneville said. ''He said it's day and night since where he was at the start of training camp and where he is today, so hopefully it doesn't re-occur. It's a big hurdle he crossed, and it's nice that he's feeling better.''

Concussions are strange things. Jonathan Toews is experiencing similar symptoms since taking a hard hit from the Vancouver Canucks' Willie Mitchell on Oct. 21 and hasn't returned to the ice. Eager, who insisted he had ''an upper-body injury,'' has a history of them.

''You just don't know,'' Quenneville said. ''[Concussions] can be tricky. Sometimes there's reasons why [they occur], but we don't know them.''

The Hawks' fourth line of Eager, Colin Fraser and Adam Burish might have been the best in the NHL, with Eager and Burish providing the toughness the team badly needed.

''I'm a physical player and try to bring some energy,'' Eager said. ''Last year our line played in the other team's end a lot, and on those nights when our team needed a little lift, we were able to give that.''

This season has been another story. Not only has Eager been out, but Burish won't play until March after suffering a serious knee injury in a preseason game. Fraser has played with several different wingers in the first 13 games, and his line hasn't been nearly as effective as it was last season.

Having a healthy Eager, who scored a career-high 11 goals last season, should help the cause.

''I'm pretty close to 100 percent,'' Eager said. ''I've just got to work on my conditioning a bit and get my skating legs back.''

Quenneville said it would be ''overly optimistic'' to think Eager could play in the next game, Thursday at Phoenix.

''We've got to get some contact in him before we give him the green light to play,'' Quenneville said, ''but I liked the way he skated. He's feeling way better, so that's a good sign.''

NOTES: The Hawks haven't heard from the NHL regarding a possible suspension for winger Andrew Ladd. He injured the Montreal Canadiens' Matt D'Agostini on Friday with a hard hit. ''I don't expect to hear [from the NHL],'' Ladd said. ''It was a hard hit but a clean hit.''

• Marian Hossa practiced with the full team for the second time as a center for wingers Ladd and Kris Versteeg. ''On a need basis, he was there,'' Quenneville said. ''He looks good no matter where he plays.''

• The Hawks lead their division at the end of October for the first time since the 1991-92 season.•

Fifty years ago today, hockey changed forever.

On Nov. 1, 1959, Jacques Plante became the first NHL goalie to wear a facemask, beginning the end of an era in which goalies -- including Blackhawks legend Glenn Hall -- did things that are incomprehensible today.

Not only did Hall not wear a mask, but he played in an NHL-record 503 consecutive games. Most of those -- 363, in fact -- came with the Hawks, his team from 1957 to 1967.

''Playing all those games for how many years in a row -- every minute without a mask -- and facing Bobby [Hull] in practice,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''Wow! That was a different level. That stat is probably one of the most amazing things in hockey.''

While Hall and a few others played on without masks, Plante's decision to use one revolutionized the sport. The NHL is spotlighting Plante's debut with a mask in recognition of the positive changes it brought to the game.

The Hawks started playing in 1926. Their goalies, as well as those on other teams, faced pucks without masks for more than three decades, though there was one brief exception. Clint Benedict of the Montreal Maroons wore a leather half-mask for a few games in 1930 to protect an injury to his nose and cheekbone.

But goaltending became an increasingly dangerous profession, and the advent of masks was inevitable. Plante had worn a rudimentary mask in practice with the Montreal Canadiens, but coach Toe Blake wouldn't let him wear it when the games counted because he was afraid it would impair Plante's vision.

But during a game Nov. 1, 1959, between the Canadiens and New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, a shot by the Rangers' Andy Bathgate sliced Plante from the corner of his mouth through his nostril. The game was delayed for 20 minutes while Plante received treatment. Teams didn't have backup goalies then, and Plante declared he wouldn't return to the ice unless he could wear a cream-colored Plexiglass facemask. Without a backup, Blake had no choice but to let him.

Until then, no goalie had facial protection from the pucks that came his way every practice and every game. Once Plante went with a mask, others followed. Now it's illegal to play without one.

''Those men were brave,'' Hawks goalie Cristobal Huet said. ''I feel pretty lucky nowadays to have the protection we have. Even in the 1980s, goalies weren't protected as well as we are now. Shots are coming really heavy now, so we really need that.''

Huet said he has no doubt what would happen if he didn't have his mask.

''I'd be dead right now,'' he said.

Wolves general manager Wendell Young, a former goalie, said he was glad masks were standard equipment when he started playing.

''That's why I keep my good looks,'' he said. ''I know I wouldn't have been a goalie if it wasn't for masks.''

Masks have changed considerably since Young put one on for the first time.

''We didn't have great masks back then, but at least we had something to protect us,'' he said. ''We had the old helmets with a screen in front. I borrowed a mask from my brother to wear in a game once, and it was just a piece of plastic.''

Young wore the helmet with the screen into his NHL days in the 1990s.

''Then I took a shot that actually broke the bar, and our team's trainer said I'd better switch over,'' Young said. ''I'm lucky I did.''

Young said he frequently spoke to children about goaltending.

''I told them that the puck comes in at 100 mph and that their parents drive the highways at only about 60 mph, and it was my job to get in front of those pucks,'' he said. ''I must have faced a million shots, and a good 5,000 times I was hit in the head. But the puck never broke the mask.''

Masks no longer are made of plastic, of course. Now they're made of composites and are molded to fit the goalie's face. They also are painted with all kinds of designs.

''I can remember getting a custom-made mask, and they had to make a mold of my face while I was breathing out of a straw,'' Young said. ''It took the guy 40 hours to make it, and it was expensive -- about $2,000. Now I'd guess they cost about $1,000.''

Young admitted he once considered playing without a mask for historical purposes.

''At the end of my career, I actually thought of doing one shift without my mask so I could say I was the last goalie to do it,'' he said. ''But now when a goalie's mask comes off, the [referee's] whistle blows and the game is stopped.''

The Blackhawks washed away the bad taste of a shutout loss at Nashville in a hurry. They concluded the first month of the season with a rousing 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in one of those rare matchups of NHL Original Six franchises Friday night at the United Center.

Patrick Sharp's blast with 4:10 left in the third period decided this one with Patrick Kane his setup man. Kane slipped Sharp a pass from the right boards and Sharp one-timed it past goaltender Carey Price.

''He really put that one home with some force,'' teammate Kris Versteeg said. ''And it got the monkey off his back somewhat because he hadn't scored in a few games.''

Sharp had gone six games without a goal before Friday's game-winner.

''Sharpie always finds a way to get open, and to put the puck in his wheelhouse was great,'' Kane said.

Coach Joel Quenneville suggested it might be ''the biggest goal of the season,'' given that it provided a victory to savor through a five-day stretch until the next game, which is Thursday in Phoenix.

There was more to this game than the one big shot, though. Cristobal Huet was rewarded a start against the team that traded him following three strong performances, and he earned the win despite a somewhat shaky second period.

''Every time the coach tells me to play I'm ready for it,'' Huet said. ''But it was great to play against that jersey.''

Then there was the thunderous hit by Andrew Ladd on Montreal's Matt D'Agostini that set the tone just 3:48 into the game. Ladd wound up getting a game misconduct, but he earned respect.

''He's a tough guy. He can really fight and really hit,'' Versteeg said. ''It was nice to see him run someone over.''

''It looked like a clean hit, and it pumped up the crowd and pumped up the team,'' Kane said.

The Hawks staked Huet to the early lead on Versteeg's power-play goal 11:57 into the game.

Versteeg banked the puck off a Montreal defenseman while trying a centering pass to Sharp from behind the net.

The lead grew to 2-0 midway through the second on another goal with the man advantage. Cam Barker scored from the left circle on a play that started with Kane getting the puck along the right boards and passing to Versteeg behind the net.

Huet wasn't so sharp in the latter stages of the second, however, as the Canadiens came back to tie the game. Mike Cammalleri cut the lead in half, slipping the puck between Huet and the near post from close range 15:55 into the period. Former Hawk Travis Moen got the equalizer with just three seconds left in the period.

Sharp's goal, though, made everything right, and left the injured Jonathan Toews and Adam Burish to lead the victory celebration for a sellout crowd of 20,807.

Toews and Burish were dressed for celebrating, each wearing Halloween outfits that couldn't be missed. Burish was dressed in a baby blue suit while Toews' suit was apricot.

''We needed that after a tough loss last night,'' Versteeg said.

Giving up a two-goal lead wasn't what the Hawks wanted, but the end result was.

''We don't see Montreal too much,'' Kane said. ''We want to enjoy this as much as we can.''

BLACKHAWKS 3, CANADIENS 2

Patrick Sharp scored with 4:10 left to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night.

Set up by Patrick Kane's centering pass, Sharp ripped a shot from between the circles past Carey Price to hand the Canadiens' their fifth straight road loss.

Kris Vertseeg and Cam Barker each had a goal and an assist. Barker's power-play goal was only the Blackhawks' second in their last six games.

Cristobal Huet stopped 20 shots in his fourth straight start and beat the Canadiens, one of his former teams, for first time in three games.

Montreal's Mike Cammalleri and Travis Moen scored 4:02 apart late in second period to erase a 2-0 Chicago lead.

Huet played on back-to-back nights for the first time this season. He made 26 saves in a 2-0 loss at Nashville on Thursday night, and has been sharp in his last four starts.

Price made 33 saves in his first start since Oct. 17, a 3-1 loss to Ottawa. Jaroslav Halak had made five straight starts since then, winning the first four before a 6-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews missed his fourth straight game because of concussion-like symptoms.

Toews hasn't resumed skating after absorbing a crushing open-ice hit from Vancouver's Willie Mitchell in the third period of a 3-2 loss to the Canucks on Oct. 21. The Chicago star is listed as day-to-day.

Versteeg scored the only goal in the up-tempo first period, with 6:14 remaining. His centering pass from behind the net hit the right skate of Montreal defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron and deflected past Price.

Chicago's Andrew Ladd knocked Montreal's Matt D'Agostini out of the game with an open-ice hit at the Canadiens' blue line 3:48 into the first. It appeared Ladd slammed D'Agostini in the chin with his shoulder, but referees Stephane Auger and Dan O'Halloran assessed Ladd with an elbowing major and a game misconduct.

Huet made several close-in saves to hold off an extended Montreal flurry midway through the second. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville called a timeout at 9:32 in an attempt to regroup his team.

The move helped.

Montreal's Hal Gill went off for hooking at 9:46. Nine second later, Barker's screened power-play goal from the left circle made it 2-0.

Goals by Cammalleri and Moen late in the second tied it at 2.

Cammalleri cut it to 2-1 with 4:05 left in the period. He beat Huet from the low edge of the right circle after Jaroslav Spacek's shot from the blue line deflected off Chicago's Brian Campbell in front of the net.

Moen took advantage of one of Huet's few lapses to tie with 2.1 seconds left in the period. His wrap-around attempt from right side of the net squeezed in between Huet's left skate and the post.

Huet made a point-blank stop on Guillaume Latendresse midway through the third to maintain the tie.

NOTES: The Canadiens visited the United Center for ths first time since Oct. 18, 2006, when they lost 2-1. Friday night's game was the only this season between the two "Original Six" rivals. Montreal beat Chicago 4-1 last March in the only 2008-09 game between the teams. ... Chicago LW Ben Eager missed his 11th game because of a concussion, but skated earlier in the day for the first time since sustaining the injury. "He skated well," Quenneville said. "It was encouraging today." The Blackhawks don't play again until Thursday night at Phoenix. Quenneville said Toews and Eager will make the trip with the team.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Blackhawks had beaten the offensively challenged Nashville Predators twice already, and Cristobal Huet gave them another great game in goal Thursday night. This time, though, the Hawks just didn't have it.

Joel Ward's power-play goal in the second period was all it took to beat them, even though Jerred Smithson added an empty-netter in the final seconds in the 2-0 loss. And there were other considerations that make this defeat more puzzling.

The Predators were without two of their best players and had played on the road the night before. Go figure.

Nashville's Sommet Center may have been the quietest building the Hawks have played in this season, but they have a history of struggling there. The Predators own a 10-4-3 edge on the Hawks on their home ice since the 2005-06 season.

The Hawks had put at least 30 shots on goal in nine of their previous 11 games, but they had only 22 Thursday, and Predators goalie Pekka Rinne had little trouble stopping them all.

''We didn't create a lot of traffic in front of the net, so he could see every shot,'' Hawks center John Madden said. ''We didn't get dirty in front of the net. That was probably the difference.''

''[Rinne] is a big goalie, and if he sees the puck, he's going to make the saves,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Winning the first two games against their Central Division rivals wasn't a factor, the Hawks claimed.

''We certainly didn't take them lightly,'' said winger Patrick Sharp, discounting the Hawks' 3-1 and 2-0 victories in their previous games against Nashville. ''They were coming off a big win [at Minnesota on Wednesday]. It's tough when you get shut out, but we've got another game [tonight].''

To get back on track tonight, the Hawks will have to handle the tougher Montreal Canadiens at the United Center.

The Predators have played without captain Jason Arnott (arm injury), a longtime Hawks nemesis, most of this season, and they were further short-handed as Martin Erat, who scored the only Nashville goal in the teams' first two meetings this season, was a late scratch with a lower-body injury.

Only good penalty-killing kept the Hawks from falling behind in the first period in a matchup of the two least penalized teams in the NHL. Nashville was the least penalized, averaging only 8.8 minutes in the box, and the Hawks were second at 9.9. But they took six penalty minutes in the first period. Nashville, though, couldn't cash in.

At least not then.

The Predators, who have the NHL's worst power play, converted with the man advantage after Cam Barker was sent off for cross-checking. Ward notched his first goal of the season, redirecting Francis Bouillon's pass from the left circle past Huet 14:53 into the second period. Nashville had been 0-for-15 on power plays on their home ice before Ward connected.

The Predators wrapped up the win on Smithson's empty-netter with 3.9 seconds left.

''Nashville played solid, and we didn't seem to come out with the urgency we needed,'' defenseman Duncan Keith said.

PREDATORS 2, BLACKHAWKS 0

With Brent Seabrook recovered from a concussion, the Hawks had seven defensemen in their lineup for the first time, using Jordan Hendry up front instead of making the usual call-up of a winger from Rockford. Hendry had played in three previous games but strictly as a D-man. Hendry was needed on the blue line, though, as Niklas Hjalmarsson was injured after getting hit by a puck in the first minute of the second period. Hjalmarsson went to the locker room for treatment but was back on the ice before the period was over.

Jonathan Toews, still recovering from a concussion, didn’t make the trip and missed his third straight game. He isn’t likely to play in tonight’s home game against Montreal either because he didn’t skate Thursday.

The Hawks’ previous two games with Nashville did wonders for goalie Cristobal Huet’s confidence. He had struggled in starts against Calgary and Colorado but worked himself out of a potential slump with 3-1 and 2-0 wins over the Predators. ‘‘I never felt out of a groove,’’ Huet said. ‘‘I just didn’t have the results I wanted. But those were good games for me, something I could build on to get my confidence and everybody else’s.’’ Huet, though, won’t declare himself confident just yet. ‘‘I’m careful of the words I’m using,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s one shot at a time. That’s how I’m approaching it.’’

Because of back-to-back scheduling, it’s likely rookie Antti Niemi will start in goal against Montreal, one of Huet’s former teams. ‘‘It’s fun playing against Canadian teams, especially Montreal with me having played there three years,’’ Huet said. ‘‘But it’s definitely more fun when you win those games.’’

Niemi was tied for ninth-best goals-against average in the NHL (2.07) entering Thursday’s games.

The Hawks went into Thursday’s game leading the NHL in three categories: best home record (5-2, tied with five others), power-play ranking on the road (5-for-12, 41.7 percent) and fewest shots allowed per game (22.3, more than four fewer than nearest-rival Phoenix at 26.5).

In an unusual bit of scheduling, the Hawks faced Nashville for the third time in 15 days, and they’ll meet three more times in December. The Central Division rivals will be done playing each other — at least in the regular season — after their meeting at the United Center on Dec. 27.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews missed his fourth straight game because of concussion-like symptoms, sitting out Friday night against Montreal.

Toews hasn't resumed skating after a crushing open-ice hit from Vancouver's Willie Mitchell on Oct. 21. Toews is listed as day-to-day.

"The progress hasn't been exactly where we wanted it," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "There's been some progress, but at the same time, we're just waiting to see."

After Friday, the Blackhawks don't play again until Thursday night at Phoenix, followed by a game the next night at Colorado.

Quenneville said Toews will make the trip with the team.

"We've got the weekend here and a couple of days next week," Quenneville said. "Hopefully we can get him back on the ice and back out there."

Toews, in his third NHL season, has a goal and four assists in nine games. Last season, the 21-year-old center had a team-high 34 goals, and added 35 assists.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Pekka Rinne made 22 saves for his first shutout of the season and fifth overall, and Joel Ward scored on a second-period power play in the Nashville Predators' 2-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

Jerred Smithson added a short-handed empty-net goal with 3 seconds left to help the Predators beat the Blackhawks for the first time in three games this season.

Ward scored with 5:07 left in the second period. Francis Bouillon sent the puck in front of the net from the lower edge of the left faceoff circle, and Ward, stationed in front of the crease, redirected it past goalie Cristobal Huet.

NOTES: Chicago's Brent Seabrook was back in the lineup following what was believed to be concussion-related symptoms. ... Nashville's Martin Erat was scratched because of a lower-body injury. ... The Predators have scored a power-play goal in each of their last two games.

Not only are the Blackhawks coming off two impressive victories, they're getting healthier.

Defenseman Brent Seabrook returned to practice Wednesday at Johnny's Ice House, and prized free-agent acquisition Marian Hossa worked out with the team for the first time. Seabrook expects to play tonight at Nashville.

Seabrook and captain Jonathan Toews took hard hits in the Hawks' loss Oct. 21 to the Vancouver Canucks. Both experienced concussion-like symptoms, and Toews remained off the ice Wednesday.

Seabrook, though, believes he's over his problems after missing two games.

''I got hit in the neck, and it sort of rattled my brain a little bit,'' he said. ''I just had headaches, but not exactly headaches. I felt pressure when I'd get up or walk. I had to wait for that to subside, and once it did I could work out.''

Seabrook had played in 223 consecutive games before his injury, the longest streak of any active Hawk and the third-longest among NHL defensemen. He has seven points in nine games and is plus-5.

While the team had Tuesday off, Seabrook went through his own workout without experiencing any symptoms. There were no problems after the workout Wednesday, either.

Only a failed psychological test with team physicians could keep Seabrook out of the game tonight.

''[The team doctors] will still talk, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm ready to go,'' Seabrook said. ''They're looking after my best interests, to make sure I'm fine. I'm looking at playing tomorrow, but it's their decision.''

Coach Joel Quenneville also expected Seabrook to return to the lineup, but Toews didn't make the flight to Nashville and is doubtful for the home game Friday against the Montreal Canadiens. Quenneville wouldn't rule him out, though.

''We'll see. He's still day-to-day,'' Quenneville said. ''With that kind of injury, you just deal with it and time will tell. You can't prognosticate. It's case-by-case.''

Hossa's return isn't expected until Nov. 25 at San Jose, and that's only a tentative target date. After signing the biggest contract in franchise history -- 12 years for $62.5 million -- Hossa underwent shoulder surgery July 24. His first workout with the team came a bit ahead of schedule.

''We thought it'd be Saturday or Sunday, but the guys won't be practicing here soon,'' Hossa said.

With games the next two nights, the Hawks likely will take the weekend off, then leave early for back-to-back games next Thursday and Friday in Phoenix and Dallas. Hossa will resume skating alone, which he has been doing for more than a week.

Hossa didn't take any contact Wednesday. He took part in some passing and light shooting drills.

''For it being my first time, it felt pretty good,'' he said. ''You've got to pace yourself. You can't get too crazy right away. I can tell that I don't have much power yet, but practicing with the guys gives you a little confidence. It puts a smile on your face, and you feel a little better.''

''He looked good,'' Quenneville said. ''Usually when a guy hasn't skated or has been skating on his own and then comes back [to the team], it slows down drills. But he speeded them up. He has the speed, the presence, the quality, the skill. He did a lot of different drills. It was a good first step for him.''

The Afternoon Sports Club has a new weekday feature for you. It's very simple: We give you two personalities in the news, and you tell us who you'd rather have lunch with.

Who would you prefer to sit and converse with for an afternoon? Ask them anything you want. Listen to their stories. Give them a piece of your mind. It's your choice.

Yesterday, 61 percent of you said you would rather have lunch with Marisa Miller than Derrick Rose. I guess swimsuit and lingerie talk would be more interesting than cross-over dribbles.

Today's luncheon guests: Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro or Blackhawks' coach Joel Quenneville?

Vote in the poll (brown bagging it is not an option), and leave comments below if you'd like. We'll pick up the tab.

The Blackhawks’ medical report showed a decided upgrade Wednesday when Brent Seabrook and Marian Hossa returned to practice at Johnny’s Ice House.

Seabrook had been battling concussion-like symptoms since getting kicked in the face in a game against Vancouver last Wednesday. He worked out on his own on Tuesday, when the rest of the team had the day off, and joined his team on the flight to Nashville after going through Wednesday’s workout. The Hawks expect Seabrook to play in Thursday night’s game against the Nashville Predators.

Hossa, meanwhile, went through his first practice ever with the Hawks. He signed a 12-year $62.8 million contract on July 1 but then underwent shoulder surgery three weeks later. He had skated on his own for a week before joining his teammates. Hossa, however, won’t be in the lineup for awhile. The target date for him to play his first game is Nov. 25 at San Jose. Hossa didn’t travel with the team to Nashville.

Captain Jonathan Toews, however, remained off the ice and will miss at least the Nashville game. He took a hard hit from Vancouver’s Willie Mitchell last Wednesday and is also nursing concussion-like symptoms. Coach Joel Quenneville still lists Toews as day to day and wouldn’t rule him out of Friday’s home game against Montreal.

Game 3 was seconds old when the familiar chant of ''Detroit sucks'' filled the United Center from the ice to the rafters.

And somewhere in between -- much nearer to the rafters than the ice -- Curtis Russell shouted it as loudly as he could, punctuating each syllable with his fist pumping in the air.

At that moment, Russell didn't care that he had the worst seat in the house. Actually, it wasn't a seat at all. He was in the standing-room-only section.

That was fine by Russell and his friend Dave Soderstrom, who made the drive into the city from south suburban Lansing to get in line two hours before the first puck was dropped. Their goal was to be among the early birds in the first-come, first-served SRO section. Those who do this, Russell and Soderstrom said, are real fans.

To be sure, the standing-room-only experience is less than ideal. Often obstructed by railings or the heads of seated fans, the sightlines aren't great. Fans stand as many as three deep in some areas, so it's possible you can find yourself spending the whole game on tip-toes just to catch the occasional glimpse of a streaking Blackhawk.

But what they lack in comfort and style, the SRO fans more than make up for in verve, pluck and deep passion.

In other words, if you watch a Hawks game from the SRO section, you really want to be there.

Some wore lucha-libre masks and American flags as capes. Much more common are hockey sweaters -- adorned on the back with new players' names mixed in with the Amontes, Belfours and Proberts of yore. They high-five, scream their heads off and sing ''Chelsea Dagger'' after the Hawks score as if they were sitting against the glass and the players were within earshot.

For Schaumburg's Dave Jablonski, who has been a standing-room patron since 1980 at the old Chicago Stadium, ''there's no better way to watch the game.''

Jablonski brought his 26-year-old son, Paul, who was visiting from Arizona.

''I usually buy seats,'' Jablonski said. ''But in this economy? This is what I grabbed, you know. You do what you do. There was no way we were missing this, though.''

Chris Werner, senior executive director of the Blackhawks' ticket department, said the team has sold out the SRO section for every home playoff game this season, including Sunday's game. During the season, the section averaged 65 percent capacity.

Standing-room ticket prices for the playoffs range from $25 to $40 for advance purchases based on the round -- if you're among the lucky ones who get them at face value. Some fans, including Jablonski, paid as much as $120 for the chance to stand for nearly three hours.

There were even some Detroit fans peppering the SRO section who braved the inevitable jeers. Clad in white Red Wings jerseys, Bill Egglesfield, 66, and his son Sean, 32, showed up at the United Center two hours before the game to get some ''prime real estate'' -- as close to center ice as possible.

''Even a few years ago, it seemed like there would be as many Red Wings fans [at the United Center] as there were Hawks fans,'' Sean Egglesfield said. ''But this is beautiful. Just being here in the atmosphere, doing the whole father-son thing -- it's priceless. The [Hawks-Red Wings] rivalry is back.''

Asked about the collective beer-swilling habits of the standing-room-only crowd, one vendor said, ''They drink like Bears fans.''

So is this a compliment?

''Absolutely,'' Jablonski said, ''a very big compliment.''

The Blackhawks are back in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1995, which means plenty of you out there are tuning in to the team's exploits after a prolonged hiatus.

It's OK. Don't be shy. Welcome back.

The last thing we'd want is for any tried-and-true fans (diehards) who have suffered through the futility of past seasons to accuse you of jumping on any Blackhawks bandwagon. So we've compiled the following cheat sheet to get you up to speed:

•      Some things haven't changed since the last time the Blackhawks piqued your interest. For instance, fans still cheer loudly during the national anthem, and they still play "Shoot the Puck" between periods.

•      Dustin Byfuglien's last name is pronounced "BUFF-lin." Team captain Jonathan Toews' last name is pronounced "TAVES." Nothing will blow your cover faster than a botched pronunciation.

•      Contrary to appearances, Toews and Patrick Kane are growing playoff beards. But at ages 21 and 20, respectively, theirs simply aren't as full as those of teammates Patrick Sharp, Ben Eager, Martin Havlat and Brian Campbell.

•      "Wirtz" is no longer a dirty word in Chicago. Since taking over as team chairman in 2007 after the death of his father, Bill Wirtz, Rocky Wirtz has transformed the Blackhawks into one of the most fan-friendly franchises in professional sports -- not to mention a Stanley Cup contender.

•      The Blackhawks checking line -- responsible for going up against opponents' top lines -- is one of the best in the business. Forwards Havlat, Dave Bolland and Andrew Ladd have combined for a total of 25 points in the playoffs. During a lull in conversation, ingratiate yourself with a diehard by mentioning how impressed you are with the Hawks' checking line. It could lead to one of those fist bumps the players do.

•      You may notice during breaks in the action that a gaggle of scantily clad, shovel-wielding ladies will skate into the rink to remove errant ice chips. This is the Blackhawks Ice Crew, and they've been scooping ice shavings and drawing stares since the 2003-04 season.

•      Icing is one of the most common, yet misunderstood, violations in professional sports. It's called when a player shoots the puck from his team's side of the center line past the opposing team's goal line -- and the other team is the first to touch it.

It's not icing, however, if the team that shot the puck is short-handed or if the referee decides that an opposing player could have stopped the puck from crossing the goal line. There are some other exceptions, but that's enough to get by.

•      Players do not wear jerseys. There's no such thing as a hockey jersey. It's a sweater. Please, please call it a sweater.

•      It's perfectly acceptable -- and even encouraged -- to chant "Detroit Sucks" when the Blackhawks are playing the Red Wings ... or when the Blackhawks are playing anyone in the National Hockey League.

•      During a Hawks' power play, you may get the urge to yell "Shoot!" whenever a Blackhawks player has the puck near the circle. Resist that urge, and have faith the players know what they're doing. Your urgings will only add to the general anxiety that comes with a trip to the conference finals.

•      Impress your friends with this nugget: The Blackhawks are named after Chief Black Hawk -- by proxy. In 1926, Blackhawks founder Maj. Frederick McLaughlin named the team after his World War I machine-gun battalion, which was nicknamed the Black Hawks. They got the nickname from Sauk Indian Chief Black Hawk, who sided with the British during the War of 1812. Use your best discretion when dropping this historical anecdote.

Contributing: Kyle Koster

If last season's NHL Rookie of the Year award wasn't enough to stamp Patrick Kane as a star in the making, his first career hat trick during the Blackhawks' series-clinching 7-5 win over the Vancouver Canucks last Monday should remove any doubt.

''Kane showed that he can be a star in this league for years to come,'' said Canucks defenseman Shane O'Brien, whom Kane muscled through along the boards to maneuver for his first goal in Game 6. ''He had a spectacular game.''

Hawks defenseman Brent Seabrook praises Kane for making ''big strides'' in a short period.

''He's such a phenomenal player to watch out there that I've even sat there and watched in awe a lot of times,'' Seabrook said.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault believes this is just the beginning of a potential golden era that Kane, 20, and 21-year-old center Jonathan Toews -- team captain and Kane's partner in grime -- are forging for the Hawks.

''Give [the Hawks] credit,'' Vigneault said. ''They are one of the best-skilled offensive teams in the National Hockey League. If they can keep this team together in this cap era, the people of Chicago are going to have a very strong team for a very long time.''

Four more wins will advance the Hawks into the Stanley Cup finals, which they haven't won since 1961. Kane, who is second in team playoff scoring with eight goals and four assists, said he isn't surprised at the Hawks' success.

''I thought we'd be here right now,'' he said. ''A lot of things have turned around for us. ... We feel we have a great group of guys here that can put something good together.''

It's that kind of talk that commands respect from Kane's teammates.

''The biggest thing about Kaner is that his confidence never seems to go away,'' Toews said. ''He's always pretty confident in himself and all the things he can do on the ice. He's just got that all-American style where he's got the superstar mentality where he feels there's nothing he can't do. You saw that [Monday] night.''

In tribute to Kane after his third goal, fans in the jubilant, sellout United Center crowd of 22,687 threw caps and hats onto the ice. The win advanced the Hawks to the Western Conference final for the first time since 1995.

''It's about time I got my first hat trick,'' Kane said. ''I've waited two years. I guess it can't come in a better game than this. ... It was awesome. ... From the crowd, to winning the game, to scoring the hat trick, I just had chills down my spine. ... I was in another world. It was a great night for me.''

Kane's mother, Donna, said his rise to stardom had a rather pedestrian start.

''Patrick was an easy kid to raise and a typical boy on the whole,'' she said. ''It wasn't just hockey, hockey, hockey all the time, even though he loved it a lot. He ran around the street like a typical kid, played games [with sisters Erika, 19, Jessica, 18, and Jacqueline, 15], did his share of house chores and even got a few little spankings, too.

''But when it came time to play hockey, he made it his No. 1 priority and did what he had to do to try to become the best. He has always had an outstanding work ethic. And even when he did fine, he always knew he could have done better, and he always worked harder to do so.

''Now, he's a rising professional hockey player. But when I look across the table at him, I still see a kid who wants to throw a ball around with his sisters, go swim in the pool, play basketball and have fun. He was a joy to raise.''

Patrick says his mother is so helpful he sometimes feels he's taking advantage of her, but she says she's just doing her job.

''This profession that he has chosen is so demanding and takes so much of his time,'' she said, ''that anything I can do to help him and make things easier for him, I am willing to do. And I'm sure that all the other mothers of the players on the team feel the same way I do.''

Chicago Blackhawks fans may be among the few Americans these days who don't immediately think of Amstel Light whenever the Fratellis' "Chelsea Dagger" plays.

The infectious song -- the soundtrack of an oft-aired Amstel Light beer commercial -- gets blasted from the United Center loudspeakers after every Blackhawks goal, one of the many additions to the increasingly exciting atmosphere at Hawks games.

Pete Hassen, a Blackhawks spokesman, said "Chelsea Dagger" was chosen as the team's goal song from a narrowed-down pool of six candidates before the preseason.

Blur's "Song 2," "Tick Tick Boom" by the Hives and the Ting Tings' "Keep Your Head" are among the others that were considered.

The reaction to "Chelsea Dagger" from fans was mixed at first, but Hassen watched as fans warmed to it.

"We noticed about two months into the season that people were doing their own dance to it," Hassen said. "And now you're seeing as the team is taking off, the song is really taking off."

Need proof? Hassen said Cubs catcher Koyie Hill, who was at Monday night's playoff game with some other Cubs, sent a text informing him that he and his teammates couldn't stop humming it.

During the regular season, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp had more personalized songs that played after they scored.

The Scorpions' 1984 hit "Rock You Like a Hurricane" played whenever Kane scored, while Toews celebrated to the tune of "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry and Sharp to ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man."

For the playoffs it's been all "Chelsea Dagger" -- with its bouncy hook and signature "duh duh duhs" that fans have been humming, shouting and chanting as they file out of the United Center after a Blackhawks win.

Lifelong Hawks fan Kasia Chalko said she has a "Pavlovian response" whenever she hears "Chelsea Dagger."

Upon hearing it, she gets the sense that something great just happened -- even when it's just the Amstel Light commercial.

"Sometimes when I'm watching the game at home and the Blackhawks score, I'll play it on my iPod," she said. "I actually played it this morning as I was getting ready to leave my house because [Monday] night's win was so big."

During the White Sox' championship series in 2005, Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" became a staple at U.S. Cellular Field. So is "Chelsea Dagger" the Hawks' answer?

"Music tends to play a huge part in every game," Hassen said. "I don't think you go into a year thinking, 'We're going to have a signature song.' It just kind of happens."

"For the White Sox, I think 'Don't Stop Believing' was a little more themed. This is just kind of a feel-good song. There's no lyrics [in 'Chelsea Dagger'] that have any meaning. It's just the perfect call and response after a goal."

Hassen wasn't sure whether the team will keep "Chelsea Dagger" next season.

"You can't really say that it's going to stay," he said. "But when things work, why mess with it?"

Kevin Allen is a co-author of the Sports Pros(e) blog at suntimes.com.