Blackhawks 6, Flames 1

If there was any question about how the Blackhawks would respond to their long time off, the question was answered loud and clear on Sunday night as the Hawks beat Calgary 6-1 in their first game in six days.

“It was a dangerous game coming into it,” said Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville. “We were strong. I like how we looked.”

Despite being a man down for eight minutes in the first period, the Hawks opened with two goals in the period, including a power play goal from Martin Havlat. The Flames went 0-for-8 on the power play.

“Our penalty killers did a great job in the first to get us into the game,” said Quenneville. “Coming out of [the first period] with a lead was important, and we got better as the game went on.”

After the teams traded goals in the second period, Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the season 54 seconds into the third, ending his scoring drought at 12 games.

“It’s a good feeling,” Toews said. “I’ve been telling myself that the team’s playing great and that’s the most important thing. If we were losing and things weren’t going well as a team, there’d be a little bit more pressure when pucks aren’t going in, but they did tonight. Hopefully, that means there are going to be a lot more to come.”

“Now he can just play,” said linemate Patrick Kane, who had a goal and two assists on the night. “It’s good for the whole team. Get it out of the way and now we go play.”

Kris Versteeg added another goal 28 seconds later to end the shift, the second of the three-goal period for Chicago. Versteeg currently ranks second among all NHL rookies in points (12), behind only Columbus' Derrick Brassard.

Troy Brouwer added a late power play goal to cap the scoring.

Cristobal Huet stopped 22 shots in the game, allowing only Dustin Boyd’s second-period goal.

The Blackhawks welcome the Boston Bruins to the United Center Wednesday night following a pregame ceremony retiring the sweater of Pierre Pilote and Keith Magnuson.


Brad Boron | chicagoblackhawks.com
Three star selections:
1st: PATRICK KANE
2nd: MARTIN HAVLAT
3rd: JONATHAN TOEWS

Winning Goaltender:
Cristobal Huet

Losing Goaltender:
Miikka Kiprusoff