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Sharks-Blackhawks Preview

Nov 15, 2009 - 6:01 AM By ANDY LEFKOWITZ STATS Editor

San Jose (13-4-3) at Chicago (11-5-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Before the Chicago Blackhawks head out on their annual Circus Trip, they'll try to post their longest winning streak at the United Center in nearly eight years.

Looking for its seventh straight home victory, Chicago will face a severe test Sunday when it squares off against the league-leading San Jose Sharks, who play the middle game of a daunting trip.

The Blackhawks (11-5-2) extended their streak by holding off Toronto 3-2 on Friday. Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Troy Brouwer staked Chicago to a 3-0 lead and Cristobal Huet made it stand up despite allowing two goals to Phil Kessel.

Chicago is in position for its longest winning streak at home since Dec. 27, 2001-Jan. 20, 2002, but coach Joel Quenneville didn't appear to be entirely pleased Saturday.

"It looked like we were on our way to our first comfortable lead - it's been some time since we've had that kind of situation - and we let it unravel," he told the Blackhawks' official Web site. "I don't think you want to get comfortable with anybody."

Huet finished with a season-high 29 saves against one of the East's worst teams to improve to 8-4-1 with a 2.19 goals-against average.

"Huet made the saves when we needed him. And for the most part we did a good job of keeping pressure on and not giving up too much," Keith said.

Now the clear-cut starter with Nikolai Khabibulin in Edmonton, Huet has been in net for each game during the home win streak, allowing a total of eight goals for a 1.32 GAA. That's after he surrendered 13 tallies in his first four home contests. However, he's yet to defeat San Jose, going 0-3-1 with a tie and a 4.37 GAA in six games.

In his only appearance last season against the Sharks in Chicago, Huet gave up all the goals in a 6-5 loss on Nov. 16. That was the Blackhawks' sixth straight home loss to San Jose, a slide that ended with a 6-5 shootout win on March 25.

The circus comes to the United Center following this contest, forcing the Blackhawks and NBA's Bulls on extended road trips. The Blackhawks head to western Canada and California for six games before returning home to face Central Division-rival Columbus on Dec. 1.

San Jose (14-4-3) kicked off a stretch of three road games in four nights by beating St. Louis 3-1 on Saturday. Dany Heatley and Jed Ortmeyer erased a deficit with goals 16 seconds apart in the second period and Evgeni Nabokov turned aside 38 shots en route to his 12th win in 19 starts.

Joe Thornton added an empty-netter and Dan Boyle had two assists for the Sharks, who won for the fifth time in six games away from home and have picked up at least one point in 11 straight games (9-0-2).

"To get the two quick goals kind of took a little bit of steam out of their sails," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said.

San Jose, which was eliminated in the opening round of last season's playoffs after winning the Presidents' Trophy with a franchise-record 117 points, has a three-point edge over New Jersey and Washington so far in 2009-10.

Special teams could be the difference this game as San Jose and Chicago are tied for the league lead in penalty killing at 87.5 percent. The Sharks have given up 10 goals in 80 chances while the Blackhawks have surrendered eight in 64 this season.

The Sharks, who haven't lost in regulation since Oct. 22, wrap up their road trip on Tuesday against Nashville.