Antti Niemi's good play in the Blackhawks' last two games is being rewarded. The rookie from Finland will start in goal for the third straight game when the Atlanta Thrashers visit the United Center on Saturday. It'll be the first time that Niemi starts three games in a row. He was in goal for victories in the last two games as the Hawks rebounded from their first three-game losing streak of the season.
Jordan Hendry, a defenseman who has spent some time as an emergency winger, remained with the blueliners at Friday's practice at the United Center and coach Joel Quenneville said a forward will be called up from Rockford on Saturday to fill out the fourth line.
Kris Versteeg centered for Marian Hossa and Troy Brouwer at Friday's practice as the Hawks prepared for their first game without John Madden, the veteran centerman who is out for the two weekend games with a lower body injury. The other lines had Jonathan Toews centering for Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane, Dave Bolland centering for Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien and Colin Fraser in the middle of the fourth line with Tomas Kopecky and Adam Burish as his winger. Burish, though, is still recovering from knee surgery and won't be in the lineup until March.
Otherwise, the Hawks' six Olympians returned to the ice after being given Thursday off.