Quenneville's line shuffling leads to win over Ducks
The Hawks took advantage when Kris Versteeg slipped a backhand pass to Jonathan Toews for the winning goal with 1:35 left in the third period. Dave Bolland added an empty-netter to give the Hawks a 4-2 win that snapped their three-game losing streak. They're now 7-1-4 at the UC.'re now 7-1-4 at the UC.
Blackhawks notes
The Blackhawks had been 0-2-1 since Cristobal Huet was forced to replace the injured Nikolai Khabibulin in goal, so the 3-2 victory over Anaheim on Wednesday was a big boost for the backup. "It'll help his confidence," coach Joel Quenneville said. "He'd played well, but we hadn't rewarded him in any way." ... Steve Larmer was the honoree in the first of five scheduled Heritage Nights. He had 406 goals and 923 points while playing for the Hawks from 1982 to '93. Future Heritage Nights will honor Tony Amonte (Jan. 21), Bob Probert (Feb. 22), the MPH Line of Pit Martin, Jim Pappin and Dennis Hull (March 21) and Glenn Hall (April 1). ... A moment of silence was held before the game in memory of Martin, a four-time All-Star with the Hawks in the 1960s and '70s who was killed in a snowmobile accident Sunday. ... Khabibulin, believed to be nursing a groin strain, skated by himself for the second straight day. "We hope he can join practice by the end of the week," said coach Joel Quenneville, who called Khabibulin questionable for games Saturday at Detroit and Sunday against Phoenix at the United Center. ... Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have climbed to fifth and seventh, respectively, among forwards in fan balloting for the starters in the NHL All-Star Game in Montreal. Brian Campbell is up to fourth among defensemen. The Hawks haven't had an All-Star starter since Chris Chelios and Ed Belfour in 1996. ... If the Hawks need an offensive boost, they have a red-hot player at Rockford. Center Pascal Pelletier was the American Hockey League's player of the week after getting six goals and an assist in three games. Pelletier also had a four-game goal streak, which tied the Rockford record set last season by current Hawk Kris Versteeg.
Toews lifts Blackhawks past Ducks
Jonathan Toews broke a tie with 1:35 left in regulation in the Chicago Blackhawks' 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night. Toews beat goalie Jonas Hiller from the edge of the crease after taking a backhand cross-crease pass from Kris Versteeg. Dave Bolland added an empty-net goal with 9 seconds left.
