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Rookies have Blackhawks off to a good start

Nov 3, 2007 - 2:26 PM Chicago (6-6-0) at St. Louis (7-4-0) 8:30 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - With one month in the books, the Chicago Blackhawks have to be excited about their present and their future.

The Blackhawks travel to the Scottrade Center on Saturday to meet the St. Louis Blues.

Chicago, off its best start since going since 5-3-1-0 in October 2002-03, can thank some of its recent draft picks for the strong start.

Right wing Patrick Kane, who was the first overall pick by Chicago in the 2007 draft, finished October with a team-high 11 assists and 16 points en route to winning the NHL Rookie of the Month award. His point total was the best mark by an NHL rookie in October since 1992-93, when Winnipeg's Teemu Selanne had 20 and Boston's Joe Juneau recorded 17.

Center Jonathan Toews, who was selected third overall in the 2006 draft, challenged Kane for the honor as the 19-year-old has five goals and 10 points through one month.

St. Louis, which has alternated wins and losses since their 3-1 win over Chicago on October 17, is coming off a 3-2 road win against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

The Blues are quite happy with the play with goaltender Manny Legace, who won for the sixth time in his last eight starts against the Wild. He is 6-3-0 overall this season and 9-6-0 with two shutouts and a 2.18 goals-against average in 18 career games against the Blackhawks.