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Mason, Blues help continue Blackhawks' home woes

Jan 22, 2009 - 6:08 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- With the way things have gone at home of late, the Chicago Blackhawks will welcome their extended road trip following the All-Star break.

Chris Mason made 21 saves and defenseman Jeff Woywitka scored a rare goal as the St. Louis Blues skated to a 2-0 victory over the Blackhawks on Wednesday.

All-Star Keith Tkachuk also tallied for the Blues, who improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games.

"There have been times this season when we didn't come out on the right side of the score when we played well," St. Louis coach Andy Murray said. "Tonight, we played good and deserved to win. We took their space away and took away the energy they get in this building."

Mason turned aside three shots in the first period, six in the second and 12 in the third en route to his second shutout of the season and 14th career.

"The guys did a great job keeping them off me, and I didn't see a lot of shots in the first two periods," Mason said. "I knew they would come hard in the third, and they did. But our guys were great and we got two points."

"He didn't face a lot of shots early on, but when he did, he had to make some key saves for us," Murray said.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was disappointed with his team's effort.

"It's easy to say what could have happened if we had buried a couple of early chances," the All-Star said. "The more shots we get, the more opportunities we give ourselves, and we didn't have many shots in the first two periods."

Cristobal Huet made 27 saves for Chicago, which fell to 0-2-1 in its last three home games after beginning the campaign with a 14-2-4 mark at the United Center. And one of the Blackhawks' two initial regulation home losses came in the 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on January 1.

"They come when they come, and you have to play it that way," Chicago All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell said. "All I know is that when we come back from the weekend, we have to be ready because we have a long road trip."

Chicago, which does not return to the United Center until February 14 thanks to an eight-game road trip that begins after the break in Anaheim, was unable to generate chances against Mason. The 32-year-old goaltender had little trouble with the few shots he did face, winning for the second time in as many games after going 0-8-1 in his previous nine decisions.

"We had some quality chances and didn't convert, but we could have used more of them," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

"This is a big win for us and a great way to go into the break," Mason said. "I thought we played a full 60 minutes."

A delay-of-game penalty on defenseman James Wisniewski late in the first period ultimately led to the Blackhawks' demise. Less than a minute into the ensuing power play, Woywitka unleashed a wrist shot from the right point that beat Huet, who was being screened by Tkachuk, with 1:55 remaining in the period.

It was Woywitka's fourth goal in 117 career NHL games and first in his last 38 contests. The tally also came on the Blues' third power-play opportunity of the contest.

"I was worried when we didn't take advantage of the early power play, and then the five-minute one, too," Murray said. "At least we got a goal on the third one and got a lead."

After a scoreless middle session, Tkachuk doubled St. Louis' lead at 7:28 of the third.

Brad Boyes received a backhand pass from Tkachuk above the right faceoff circle and carried the puck toward the net before losing control. Standing in the right place at the right time, Tkachuk backhanded it past Huet from inside the right circle for his 15th goal of the season.

"Boyes just took it to the net and I was able to get it and slip it five-hole," Tkachuk said. "I was fortunate to get the shot off quickly."

Quenneville, who began his NHL coaching career with St. Louis, was impressed with his former team.

"They're playing hard and they're playing good right now," he said. "Tonight, we saw what happens when a road team gets the lead. They are hard to come back on."