"Coach Joel Quenneville named Antti Niemi the starting goaltender for the Blackhawks' game tonight against the Vancouver Canucks.

That's not really a surprise, given how well the rookie from Finland has been playing, but it could eventually trigger a changing of the guard in the Hawks' goaltending situation. Niemi has played second fiddle to Cristobal Huet through the first 51 games of the season. Tonight marks the first time Niemi has started consecutive games.

Niemi played in consecutive games once, when he came on in relief Oct. 12 against the Calgary Flames and started the next game against the Edmonton Oilers. Otherwise, he clearly has been Huet's backup despite compiling a 13-3-1 record with an NHL-best 1.85 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Those numbers can't keep you on the bench for long.

Niemi and Huet have four shutouts apiece, although Niemi has his in only 15 starts.

Still, Niemi gets a second consecutive start as much because of Huet's shortcomings as his own good play.

''The last two games, I gave up nine goals,'' Huet said after the Hawks practiced at the Canucks' GM Place on Friday. ''I didn't play well, for sure.''

Another reason Quenneville is keeping Niemi in goal tonight is his familiarity with the Canucks. He has faced them twice this season, including a 1-0 victory in the Hawks' last visit Nov. 22. He also faced them at the United Center on Oct. 21, when the Hawks lost 3-2 and didn't play well in front of him."