The Colorado Avalanche explode with a four-goal second period to route the Blackhawks 6-2 handing them their first regulation loss of the 2013 season.
The Blackhawks flooded the gates hot with an early penalty kill followed by a Jonathan Toews goal who finished a tic-tac-toe play set up beautifully by Marian Hossa and Brandon Saad.
The Avalanche responded towards the later stages of the first period when Paul Stastny redirected a shot that tied the game at one.
And it was all Colorado in the second.
Matt Duchene, John Mitchell, Ryan O’Reilly (PP), and Jamie McGinn each found the back of the net building an insurmountable 5-1 lead.
Bryan Bickell cut the deficit to 5-2 in the middle of the third, but P.A. Parenteau added a late goal to put the dagger in the historic Blackhawks streak of 24 consecutive games with at least a point.
Colorado had four players finish with a multi-point night, including Duchene who registered four points with a goal and three assists. Parenteau and Stastny contributed with a goal and two assists each.
Corey Crawford stopped 14 of 19 shots (.737 save %) in the first 40 minutes of play before Ray Emery would take over in the third. Emery recorded 11 saves on 12 shots (.917 save %).
The Blackhawks outshot the Avalanche 33 to 31 and registered 13 blocked shots, but Colorado won 36 draws compared to Chicago’s 19.
Power Play: 0-for-2
Penalty Kill: 2-for-4
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Blackhawks will head back to the United Center for a quick home game on Sunday night against Edmonton before heading on a four-game road trip; puck drop at 6:00pm CT!
(For more Blackhawks coverage, please visit http://www.hawkeyonthefly.com/)
With One Loss Behind Them, Hawks Looking Forward to Normality
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