Hawks & Niemi shut out Vancouver, 1-0, win streak at 7.

After scoring 12 in their two wins in Alberta, the blackhawks found goals much harder to come by in British Columbia, but they still managed to gain at least a split in their 6 game road trip by sweeping the Canadian portion in 4 nights with a tight 1-0 win against a well-rested Vancouver team.

The hawks played a terrific defensive road game - limiting the canucks chances even though outshot 30 to 17. Antii Niemi was sharp despite it being his first start since losing to the canucks in Chicago over a month ago.

Good scoring chances were hard to come by for both teams and the few that were created were not capitalized on.

The hawks top line of Toews & Kane with Kopecky on the left side were able to hem the canucks in their own zone for an entire shift midway through the first, eventually forcing the canucks to ice the puck, but the hawks were unable to capitalize on the chances created - Kane fanned on a chance at the side of the Vancouver net, but was able to retrieve the puck and center to Kopecky open in the slot, but his backhander was stopped by Luongo.

Brouwer had a great chance in the slot early in the second with Luongo down & out of position, but fired the puck wide of the empty net. Midway through the second, Versteeg & Byfuglien broke in on a 2 on 1, but Byfuglien missed the target on a one-timer set up by Versteeg. Moments later, Bryan Campbell led the rush down the right side into the zone & fired a shot from the top of the circle that seemed to handcuff Luongo who juggled it but managed to cover up before Kopecky & Eager converged at the crease, looking for a loose puck.

A minute or so later, Kane moved down the right side and was able to get a backhand shot on net, but Luongo was this time equal to the task. At the other end, Bernier had a good chance after coming out of the penalty box and breaking in alone down the left side, but Niemi stoned him with his outstretched left leg pad. Late in the 2nd, the Canucks Kesler jumped on a weak clearing attempt & fed to Raymond alone in front of Niemi, but his backhand shot was stopped. Kesler's pass was high, forcing Raymond to knock it down to his stick first, which took away the opportunity to perhaps deke Niemi.

The lone goal came early in the 3rd period, with Bryan Campbell taking a cross-ice feed as he moved in from the left point from Patrick Kane. Kane, who did not get an assist on the goal, nevertheless made the play happen by gaining the zone, and stopping at the right half boards, having the vision & patience to see & find the late man Campbell on the other side of the ice moving in from the left point. (Kane's consecutive game point streak comes to an end at 9.)

Campbell, after taking Kane's pass, cut into the slot, tho his shot was blocked in front by the skate of Toews (who got an assist instead of Kane). Campbell tried another shot, which Luongo did not appear to see, but stopped with his left leg pad, however the puck sat there loose for Bryan Bickell, who had an easy tap in with Luongo down & out. Bickell, who was a bit of s surprise starter after leaving last night's game from what looked like a head injury (when his helmet hit the ice while throwing an open ice hit on the oilers Dustin Penner), was noticeable again, particularly in the corners & along the boards as well as parked in front of Luongo.

Vancouver came close to tying later when Burrows was set up in front by Wellwood & got off a backhand that Niemi stopped but gave a rebound - Burrows got off another backhand that hit Niemi's glove, with the puck bouncing up in the air & back towards the goal tho Niemi was able to maintain his balance & focus and snag it despite heavy traffic all around his crease. He made another good save on a high wrist shot by Kesler from the top of the right circle. Kesler used Barker as a screen and snapped a hard shot high, that Niemi had to fight off. Edler hit the post on a hard point shot, and then in the dying seconds, Burrows had a last gasp chance in front, but Niemi was equal to the task in preserving the win & his second shutout of the season in just 5 starts.

The hawks did a great job all night in getting into shooting lanes & blocking numerous shots and otherwise collapsing back in support of their young goalie. Even Patrick Kane made a legitimate effort to help out in his own zone and was effective.

It is hard to imagine the hawks playing better than they have in their past 7 games, however, with Hossa slated to join the lineup at some point over the next 3 games, expectations are rising that they will be even better. Those might be difficult to live up to, but as they did much of last season, the hawks seem to keep rising to the occasion, challenging themselves to be better and actually getting better as the season progresses...

These young hawks certainly don't appear to be your father's hawks. Up next, a showdown in San Jose where the hawks can move to within two points of first overall, with 3 games in hand. After back to back disappointing losses in Phoenix & Colorado on the "father's trip" at the beginning of the month, it was certainly difficult to see this impressive turnaround coming.