Sunday, Apr. 4, 2010
By Brett Ballantini
CSNChicago.com
.233: Antti Niemi has seven whitewashes in just 30 starts in 2009-10, a .233 percentage. Every NHL goaltender with five or more shutouts has started at least 50 games.
.269: The Blackhawks .269 winning percentage when trailing after two periods is third-best in the NHL, trailing just the Washington Capitals and Vancouver Canucks.
.538: Jonathan Toews is second in NHL history with a .538 shooting percentage in shootouts.
.812: Niemis .812 save percentage on shootouts (26 of 32) is the best in the NHL among goaltenders who have faced 20-plus shots.
.886: Chicagos penalty kill at home is the second-best in the league.
NHL
.926: Niemi has a .926 save percentage over his last nine starts.
2: Fridays loss to Chicago marked just second time this season the New Jersey Devils had lost when leading at second intermission (30-1-1).
7: The Blackhawks have won seven consecutive regular season games vs. Calgary (Chicago swept the Flames in 2008-09).
8: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville (then with the St. Louis Blues in 1999-2000) coached the last team to win the Central Division before the eight-year run of titles by the Detroit Red Wings started.
11: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has guided his teams into the postseason in 11 of his 12 full seasons as a head coach.
14: Fridays win over the Devils wasnt just the first win for Chicago in New Jersey since Dec. 30, 1997, it was the teams first multiple-win season vs. the Devils in 14 years (since 1995-96).
15: The Blackhawks have won five of their last seven shootouts and nine of 15 overall in 2009-10. Combined with their 6-1 record in OT, Chicagos 15-7 record in extra time is second in the NHL only to the Phoenix Coyotes, who are 17-6.
16: Its been 16 years since Chicago has swept back-to-back season series from a Western Conference opponent. The victim was the Flames, in the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons.
19: Chicago finished the regular season vs. the East at 11-5-2, their best since going 21-9-3 vs. Wales (the old Eastern Conference) 19 years ago, in 1990-91.
30: Niemi has authored seven of Chicagos 11 games of 30-plus saves this season.
53: Niemi has stopped 53 of the past 54 shots hes seen in his past two games.
95: Calgary starting goalie Miikka Kiprusoff has stopped 95 of 100 shots hes seen over his past three starts.
203: Chicago has now lost 203 man-games to injury so far this season; last years season total was 179.