Alexandar Georgiev earns 14th career shutout as Avs blank Blackhawks

[October 20, 2023]  Alexandar Georgiev had 18 saves for his 14th career shutout as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 in Denver on Thursday night.
 
Nathan MacKinnon, Logan O'Connor, Devon Toews and Ryan Johansen each scored goals and Mikko Rantanen and Tomas Tatar had two assists each for Colorado, which won its home opener and has started the season with four straight victories.  

Oct 19, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) makes a save against Chicago Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno (17) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Peter Mrazek turned away 37 shots for Chicago, which wrapped up a five-game road trip to start the season. The Blackhawks play their home opener against Vegas on Saturday night.

The teams had seven shots each midway through the first period when the Avalanche started to control the play. Colorado held a 15-1 advantage in shots in the second half of the opening period and cashed in on the penalty kill.

With Bowen Byram off for delay of game, Chicago was working the puck around the offensive zone. Andrew Cogliano chipped the puck to center ice where O'Connor picked it up, he skated in alone on Mrazek and beat him with a shot over his glove at 11:46. It was his second of the season and second straight game with a short-handed goal.

Johnson made it 2-0 late in the first period when he tipped in a loose puck in front of the net for a power-play goal at 18:41. It was his first of the season.

The Avalanche appeared to make it 3-0 midway through the second period, but Miles Wood's goal was disallowed after the Blackhawks successfully challenged for offsides. Colorado eventually did get a third goal when Valeri Nichushkin fed Toews on the right side of the crease and Toews beat Mrazek with a shot to the far side.

It was his first of the season.

The Avalanche got an insurance goal in the third when Tatar won a puck battle in front of the Chicago net and fed MacKinnon skating down the left side; he roofed a shot for his second goal of the season.

--Field Level Media

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