ROOKIE MUNRO UPSTAGES SYD THE KID

Andy Hilbert scored two goals, and rookie Adam Munro stopped 28 shots as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 on Friday night.

Radim Vrbata and Martin Lapointe also scored for Chicago, which has won two of three following a 10-game losing streak.

Colby Armstrong scored for the Penguins, who lost their fifth straight. Marc-Andre Fleury made 31 saves.

Hilbert recorded his first multiple-goal game in the NHL after entering play with six goals in 50 games.

Munro made his second start of the season and ninth career since being recalled from Norfolk of the AHL on Dec. 29. Top goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has missed eight games because of a groin pull sustained on Dec. 28.

The Blackhawks scored three goals in a period for the sixth time this season and led 3-1 after 20 minutes.

Hilbert opened the scoring 6:15 in when he lofted in a rebound of his initial shot from left wing.

Hilbert made it 2-0 with 8:25 left in the first when he skated out of the right corner unchallenged by Pittsburgh defenseman Ryan Whitney. He cut to the front of the net and beat Fleury with a high shot

Vrbata's power-play goal just over a minute later extended Chicago's lead to 3-0. He ripped a shot past Fleury from the slot after taking a cross-ice feed from Kyle Calder.

Armstrong got credit for a power-play goal with 4:02 left in the period that cut it to 3-1.

Munro stopped Ziggy Palffy's close-in shot from the left side, but the rebound popped into the slot and deflected into the net off Chicago defenseman Jim Vandermeer.

Lapointe's power-play goal midway through the third made it 4-1.

HOME