|
 Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated
that performance Tuesday night.
Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist
for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks.
Gabriel Landeskog and John Mitchell also scored during Colorado's
three-goal first period. P.A. Parenteau and Cody McLeod added goals
in the second and third for Colorado, which snapped a three-game
skid.
"You always say a win is a win, and it is. But at the same time our
strength is our team morale and confidence," Landeskog said. "It
feels good. It doesn't mean anything unless we go into Phoenix and
play well."
Brandon Saad scored for the Blackhawks, who failed to get at least
two goals for the first time this season. Colorado ended Chicago's
NHL-record streak of 24 consecutive games with at least a point to
start a season in a 6-2 win last March.
"Maybe we tend to respect them a little more than other teams, which
we shouldn't," Stastny said. "We should respect everyone the same
way. When you're young, that happens. They're the defending champs
and you always want to play your best against the best."
Antti Raanta made 14 saves in his NHL debut for the Blackhawks. He
played the final 46:23 in relief of Corey Crawford, who allowed
three goals on seven shots.
"The target all the time was that someday I could play in the NHL,
and in Rockford I had good games there, and I know I can do it," he
said. "Only now it's the small things, so we have to keep doing work
and prepare to be even better all the time."
The Blackhawks had their opportunities in outshooting Colorado
37-23. They had several quality chances to get back in the game in
the second period but couldn't put one past Varlamov.
Colorado stumbled after winning 14 of its first 16 games but
capitalized on its chances in the first period this time. Stastny
scored when Brent Seabrook's pass off the boards ricocheted to him
in the slot, and he beat Crawford with a slap shot.
Landeskog gave Colorado a two-goal lead when he redirected Andre
Benoit's shot from the point past Crawford with 7:39 left in the
period. Just 56 seconds later, Mitchell made it 3-0.
[to top of second column] |
"We had a really good start. We were really
sharp around the net and scored nice goals," Avalanche coach
Patrick Roy said.
Raanta, recalled Sunday, replaced Crawford after Mitchell's
goal. He faced only seven shots over the next 25 minutes but
allowed his first goal late in the second period.
After the Blackhawks had several strong chances in front of
Varlamov, Parenteau skated down the left boards and beat Raanta
with a shot from the circle to make it 4-0 with 1:22 left in the
second.
"The fourth goal was big for us. They were buzzing in our zone
and Varly made some key saves for us," Roy said. "You're always
afraid being up 3-0 of having a letdown. But we were moving our
feet."
McLeod scored his first goal of the season on a rebound 1:44
into the third.
Chicago lost forward Bryan Bickell in the first period after he
crashed into the Avalanche net. He didn't return, and coach Joel
Quenneville said after the game that Bickell might be more than
day to day.
"But I'm not sure of that," Quenneville said.
It's a tough blow for the Blackhawks, who are playing without
forwards Michael Handzus and Marian Hossa.
"Bicksie is obviously a big part of this and you hope it's not
too long," Kris Versteeg said. "Obviously, we need him in the
lineup."
NOTES: Colorado forward Maxime Talbot and defenseman Tyson
Barrie had two assists each. ... There were only two penalties
called in the game, one on each team. ... Avalanche C Matt
Duchene is expected to miss at least a week with an oblique
injury sustained in Saturday's loss to Florida. ... Hossa missed
his third straight game with a lower-body injury. ... Colorado
placed forward Alex Tanguay (knee) and defenseman Ryan Wilson
(back) on injured reserve and recalled C Brad Malone and Barrie
from Lake Erie of the AHL.
[Associated
Press]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
