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Huet, Blackhawks blank Panthers

Feb 20, 2009 - 4:30 AM SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Cristobal Huet made 31 saves to record his third shutout of the season as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Florida Panthers, 4-0, on Thursday.

Ben Eager netted a pair of goals and Martin Havlat and defenseman James Wisniewski collected two assists apiece for the Blackhawks, who have won three games in a row and seven of their last nine.

"Our line is playing really well," Eager said. "It's fun to play with those guys. We play hard and tonight we got the puck to the net and got a couple of bounces."

Andrew Ladd and captain Jonathan Toews also scored for Chicago.

Tomas Vokoun stopped 38 shots for the Panthers, who had won four of their previous five contests.

"We didn't play good today, so I don't think we shouldn't be surprised we didn't pick up points," Vokoun said. "They outplayed us in most areas of the game and that's why we lost. We've been doing that to other teams and that's why we were winning."

Huet turned aside 12 shots in the first period, 11 more in the next and eight in the third to complete his 20th career blanking.

"It was almost a perfect game of protecting the lead and playing smart," Huet said. "We finished them when we had to. I was seeing the puck well and able to come up with the stops when I had to."

"I like the way he challenges the puck, his quickness and the way he handles the puck," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He was solid all-around."

Florida's best scoring chance came midway through the final session when Nathan Horton deked a defender before making a quick move around Huet, who made a sprawling save to rob the skilled left wing and secure a two-goal edge.

"We just couldn't find one tonight," Panthers center Stephen Weiss said. "We had some chances there with some point-blank shots and pucks around the crease, but they didn't go in for us."

Ladd provided all the offense Chicago would need just over three minutes into the contest.

After taking a centering pass from Havlat, Ladd had multiple chances in front of the net and finally banging in his 10th goal of the season to give the Blackhawks an early 1-0 at 3:07.

Eager doubled the advantage at 8:32 of the third with his ninth tally of the campaign and Toews sealed the win with an empty-netter with 3:50 to play to make it 3-0.