Quenneville likes way rookie stepped up play with shutout
If there was a shred of doubt remaining about who the Blackhawks' No. 1 goaltender is, it's gone now.
Coach Joel Quenneville previously had said he would wait until five games remained in the regular season before deciding between Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet as the go-to guy for the postseason.
But after starting Niemi in consecutive games this week and saying "there's a good chance he could play" Friday night against the Devils, it's clear Quenneville has made up his mind.
"He's playing well," Quenneville said of Niemi. "It was nice to show him some confidence (with back-to-back starts) and he responded with the game we were looking for."
Niemi was solid during the Hawks' 4-2 loss to the Blues on Tuesday night and then exceptional with his seventh shutout of the season Wednesday night to help the Hawks snap a three-game losing skid with a 4-0 victory over the Wild.
It was Niemi's third consecutive start while Huet, who hasn't won a game since March 5, rode the bench.
"We're going through a tough stretch right now and we're looking to get some momentum built into our team," Quenneville said. "(Niemi's) big and looked quick."
The Hawks have six games remaining in the regular season before the Western Conference playoffs kick into gear.
Working out: With the injuries to Brian Campbell (collarbone, rib) and Kim Johnsson (upper body), their fellow defensemen are absorbing extra minutes to compensate. Among those seeing more ice time is 33-year-old Brent Sopel. The veteran, who is averaging 14 minutes 39 seconds of ice time has seen his minutes rise since Johnsson went down March 13 in Philadelphia and Campbell was injured the next day against Washington.
"We've had guys go down and it's an opportunity for guys to step up and get more ice time and contribute," said Sopel, who played 19:05 against the Blues and 17:51 vs. the Wild. "We've been talking about our depth all year long and with these injuries it's starting to show. It's fun to play. My body is still getting old ? it's not getting any younger ? but I feel good."
Sopel has been particularly effective while the Hawks have been short-handed.
"It's a lot easier when you're in the game and playing as much," Sopel said. "The body is warm at all times. You're not sitting on the bench for long periods of time."
Frazzle dazzle: Center Colin Fraser had a scare during Wednesday's first period when Shane Hnidy checked him hard into the end boards. Fraser skated to the Hawks' bench where he collapsed before making his way to the dressing room.
"(I) slammed against the boards pretty hard and I got winded," Fraser said. "I was trying to breathe and trying to breathe and I couldn't get anything all the way to the bench."
Fraser returned to start the second period and recorded his 12th assist of the season on Tomas Kopecky's second goal of the game.
If there was a shred of doubt remaining about who the Blackhawks' No. 1 goaltender is, it's gone now.
Coach Joel Quenneville previously had said he would wait until five games remained in the regular season before deciding between Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet as the go-to guy for the postseason.
But after starting Niemi in consecutive games this week and saying "there's a good chance he could play" Friday night against the Devils, it's clear Quenneville has made up his mind.
"He's playing well," Quenneville said of Niemi. "It was nice to show him some confidence (with back-to-back starts) and he responded with the game we were looking for."
Niemi was solid during the Hawks' 4-2 loss to the Blues on Tuesday night and then exceptional with his seventh shutout of the season Wednesday night to help the Hawks snap a three-game losing skid with a 4-0 victory over the Wild.
It was Niemi's third consecutive start while Huet, who hasn't won a game since March 5, rode the bench.
"We're going through a tough stretch right now and we're looking to get some momentum built into our team," Quenneville said. "(Niemi's) big and looked quick."
The Hawks have six games remaining in the regular season before the Western Conference playoffs kick into gear.
Working out: With the injuries to Brian Campbell (collarbone, rib) and Kim Johnsson (upper body), their fellow defensemen are absorbing extra minutes to compensate. Among those seeing more ice time is 33-year-old Brent Sopel. The veteran, who is averaging 14 minutes 39 seconds of ice time has seen his minutes rise since Johnsson went down March 13 in Philadelphia and Campbell was injured the next day against Washington.
"We've had guys go down and it's an opportunity for guys to step up and get more ice time and contribute," said Sopel, who played 19:05 against the Blues and 17:51 vs. the Wild. "We've been talking about our depth all year long and with these injuries it's starting to show. It's fun to play. My body is still getting old ? it's not getting any younger ? but I feel good."
Sopel has been particularly effective while the Hawks have been short-handed.
"It's a lot easier when you're in the game and playing as much," Sopel said. "The body is warm at all times. You're not sitting on the bench for long periods of time."
Frazzle dazzle: Center Colin Fraser had a scare during Wednesday's first period when Shane Hnidy checked him hard into the end boards. Fraser skated to the Hawks' bench where he collapsed before making his way to the dressing room.
"(I) slammed against the boards pretty hard and I got winded," Fraser said. "I was trying to breathe and trying to breathe and I couldn't get anything all the way to the bench."
Fraser returned to start the second period and recorded his 12th assist of the season on Tomas Kopecky's second goal of the game.
