Hockey Night in suburban Chicago

Back and rested from a brief break in Kansas City, and I'm ready to go after nearly a week without pucks.

BEATDOWN: Finally playing like a Conn Smythe Trophy-winning goaltender, Cam Ward made 20 saves en route to his first career regular-season shutout in leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-0 win over the Washington Capitals.

Ward shocked the hockey world during last season's Stanley Cup run. Taking over for an ineffective Martin Gerber, Ward became just the fourth rookie goaltender to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, given annually to the MVP of the playoffs and joined some impressive company.

Hall of Famer Ken Dryden was an astounding 258-57-74 in his career and a six-time Stanley Cup winner in his nine seasons with the Montreal Canadiens.

Three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Patrick Roy is the NHL's all-time wins leader with 551, and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Monday.

Ron Hextall won 296 games and had a 2.97 GAA in 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques and New York Islanders.

BEATDOWN AGAIN: About the only good thing with the Chicago Blackhawks losing is I may get a free meal out of it.

Just before the start of the season, Kenosha-based blogsticator Chris "Screw Marquette, I'm all about the Fightin' Piscataways" Altruda and I made a bet. I said the Blackhawks wouldn't win six games in six weeks. Dinner at the Chicago Chop House was on the line.

So, when the Blackhawks got off to a 4-2-0 start, I started to put money aside to pay for dinner. Then came the injuries to Martin Havlat, Michal Handzus and Nikolai Khabibulin -- and the subsequent ineptitude. With a 2-1 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, Chicago has lost eight in a row.

The franchise record for the longest losing streak is 12 ... set 55 years ago!

Starting on Friday night, the Blackhawks face the St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets, Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks before the six weeks is up on Nov. 17.

THE GOOD...

NEW RECORD: The Anaheim Ducks set a new NHL record for longest unbeaten streak at the start of the season as Jean-Sebastien Giguere makes 20 saves in a 6-0 rout of the Vancouver Canucks. The Ducks are 12-0-4 this season, breaking the mark set by the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers ...

STAR POWER: Marty Turco made 13 saves for his 25th career shutout in the Dallas Stars' 1-0 win over Phoenix. The Stars haven't given up a goal to the Coyotes in two games this season -- rookie Mike Smith made 22 saves in a 4-0 win over the Desert Dogs on Oct. 21 ...

KLESLA THE CONQUEROR: Columbus' Rostislav Klesla scored his first two goals of the season the Blue Jackets' 4-2 win over the Blues ...

THE BAD ...

NO SHOT: Coyotes come close to a franchise record for fewest shots in a game. Phoenix also has a season-low two shots in the opening period.

BOSTON BROWNOUT: Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was pulled after allowing three goals on 10 shots in the first period during a 6-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Former Nashville Predators farmhand Brian Finley made 24 saves in a relief stint ...

MORE FLYERS FOLLIES: Philadelphia comes within 2:46 of being shut out, settles for a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders. The Flyers have the worst record (3-11-1) and the fewest goals scored (30) in the NHL ...

AND THE QUOTABLE ...

"Working backwards a little bit. But that's OK. We're happy with the order." -- Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette on Cam Ward's first career regular-season shutout coming after he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.