"Entering the season, the biggest question facing the Blackhawks was how they would fare in goal without veteran Nikolai Khabibulin, who helped lead the team to the Western Conference finals before departing in free agency.

Cristobal Huet and rookie Antti Niemi have provided the answer. The duo has been at or near the top of the NHL statistically while helping the Hawks to a 24-9-3 start. They're tied with the San Jose Sharks for the top spot in the West with 51 points.

Niemi's season debut came Oct. 3 in a 4-0 victory over the Florida Panthers in Helsinki, Finland, his native country. It was Niemi's first NHL shutout, and hardly would be his last.

Niemi, who went 1-1-1 with the Hawks last season, is 8-1-1 with four shutouts, including a 3-0 victory Wednesday at Detroit. He has three shutouts in his last five starts, spanning a month.

The 6-2, 210-pound Niemi signed May, 5, 2008, out of the Finnish Elite League. He spent most of last season with Rockford, the Hawks' American Hockey League affiliate. The good-natured Niemi earned a roster spot by beating Corey Crawford for the backup job in training camp. Niemi also was aided by a technicality that meant he would have to clear waivers upon being recalled, allowing another team to claim him.

''I just play my own game and be patient, no matter what the score is,'' Niemi said. ''I just want to do what I can to help this team. Sure, I want to play a lot. Everyone wants to play, but I just want to succeed when I have the chance and more than anything to help the team.''

While not wavering from his stance that Huet is the No. 1 goalie, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has picked the right spots for his backup, and Niemi has responded with outstanding work.

''Both guys have made some key saves that kept us in games,'' Quenneville said. ''I like having both of them. [Huet] is a competitive guy and wants [to play]. And I think [Niemi] has really played well.''

''We've got two goaltenders who can get the job done,'' second-year forward Kris Versteeg said. ''That's why we feel we can sometimes go for it.''

So call then No. 1 and No.1A.

Huet, who signed with the Hawks as a free agent on July 1, 2008, is 16-8-2 with a goals-against average of 2.05, fourth in the league among qualifiers.

A slow start to the season caused a stir. Huet allowed 17 goals in his first six games, including three on five shots Oct. 12 against the Calgary Flames. The Hawks fell behind 5-0 before winning 6-5 in overtime. Niemi earned the victory in relief.

''When we lose and I'm in, I blame myself,'' Huet said. ''There were a couple of tough losses where I felt like I was the one that let the team down because I didn't really have it."