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Toews, Huet lift Blackhawks to shootout win over Blue Jackets

Nov 2, 2008 - 3:22 AM By Dave Holstein PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Captain Jonathan Toews scored the lone goal of the shootout and Cristobal Huet shined in goal as the Chicago Blackhawks notched their first win of the season in the bonus format Saturday, a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Huet turned aside 48 shots before denying Kristian Huselius, captain Rick Nash and Jakub Voracek in the shootout to lift the Blackhawks to their second straight triumph.

"I think we have gone to a shootout with every team in our division, so for us to get those two points, it's big for us to come in here and steal one on the road," Toews said. "I think when you start winning, you get one or two wins on the road and it builds your confidence."

Patrick Sharp registered his seventh goal of the season while defenseman Brent Seabrook and Martin Havlat scored power-play tallies for Chicago. Kris Versteeg and blue-liner Duncan Keith notched two assists apiece.

The Blue Jackets received a power-play goal from R.J. Umberger and key third-period tallies from defenseman Fedor Tyutin and Huselius.

"I think they are a team that throws the puck to the net," Huet said. "I think we worked really hard. We still made a few mistakes, but overall, we corrected them throughout the game. We did a good job to contain them.

"We needed that road win desperately. We wanted to get one as soon as possible, and the guys were very much ready to get that win."

After Huselius was stopped by Huet in the first round of the shootout, Toews beat goaltender Fredrik Norrena with a quick wrist shot. Huet followed with impressive saves on Nash's backhanded attempt and Voracek's snap shot to secure the victory.

"I know Nash is coming with speed, and he likes going to his backhand. He made a few moves, but I didn't bite too much," Huet said of the save on the former Maurice Richard Trophy winner. "You never know what to expect from those guys. They are pretty high-skilled guys."

Chicago opened the scoring when Sharp scored off his own rebound with 6:15 left in the first period.

Umberger forged a tie with the man advantage 2 1/2 minutes later, netting his first goal as a Blue Jacket when he redirected a pass from Voracek while standing at the top of the crease.

"We got outworked on the special teams tonight. That's a big factor," Umberger said. "You'll run into goalies that play well like that, but (the) penalty kill has to be better. And on the power play, we had our chances and we didn't score, so that's the difference in the game."

Columbus had almost five consecutive minutes of power-play time in the second but registered only five shots on goal and failed to score.

"That was definitely a goalie win tonight," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "(Huet) was great and we battled back there. I felt like (Huet) was the story of the night, and I felt that (Toews) has been great in shootouts. We found a way to win."

Chicago went on the man advantage when Columbus' chances expired and scored on its first shot when Seabrook fired a one-timer from the top of the left faceoff circle past Norrena with 1:55 left in the session.

Columbus finished 1-for-10 on the power play, while Chicago went 2-for-4. Despite such shortcomings, Umberger felt there were plenty of positives.

"Especially to a division opponent, you know they played last night, so you've got to think that we would've had the jump out there and dictate the game," Umberger said. "We didn't quit. That shows a lot from our team. We've done that the last couple of games.

"I think we're close to putting this together, where we're going to go on a (winning) stretch here, you know. I've got a good feeling about this team."

Tyutin helped the Blue Jackets tie the game early in the third with a shorthanded goal, but Havlat struck just 33 seconds later on the same power play to reclaim the lead for the Blackhawks.

"We overwhelmed them for most of the game, but we lost the special-teams game," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "They scored two and we scored one, and that's the story of the game. Then they won the shootout special teams, too."

Columbus pulled even again at 3-3 when Huselius skated between the faceoff circles and beat Huet with a wrist shot with 7:52 remaining in the period.

The Blue Jackets have dropped four of their last five, all by two goals or less.

"You don't want to waste efforts like tonight," Hitchcock said. "This is now five games in a row that we've had a great effort. We have three points to show for it, and that's the frustrating part. We've not been rewarded for our efforts."