Blackhawks 3, Avalanche 2: Daniel Carcillo scored to snap a tie with 50 seconds remaining in the third period as Chicago extended its record season-opening point streak to 24 games by winning the opener of a home-and-home series with visiting Colorado.
Andrew Shaw had a power-play goal, captain Jonathan Toews scored short-handed and Ray Emery turned aside 20 shots to become the first goaltender in NHL history to start a season with a 10-0-0 mark. The Blackhawks (21-0-3), who have won a franchise-record 11 straight contests, recorded a point in their 30th consecutive game dating back to last season. They are five contests away from matching the longest point streak in league history set by the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers (25-0-10).
With the game tied at 2-2, Viktor Stalberg unleashed two shots from the doorstep which were denied by Semyon Varlamov (29 saves). Stationed in the slot, Carcillo alertly backhanded a loose puck between the pads of the netminder for his first goal of the season - 478 days removed from his last.
John Mitchell and Matt Duchene scored and Ryan O'Reilly registered his first assist of the campaign for the Avalanche, who are winless in seven straight road games (0-4-3) and fell to 2-8-3 away from Pepsi Center.
Despite Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival serving a hooking penalty, Toews tied the game at 2:19 of the third period. Toews skated around O'Reilly before tucking the puck past the extended right pad of Varlamov and inside the left post for his 10th goal.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Colorado overcame Shaw's early goal to seize a 2-1 lead. Mitchell converted a backhander with 1:40 left in the first period and Duchene's sharp-angle shot from along the goal line caromed off Emery's hip and into the net. ... The Blackhawks have not tasted defeat in regulation since a 6-1 setback to Nashville on March 25, 2012. ... Chicago's Marian Hossa, who scored the game-winning goal on Tuesday, participated in the pregame skate before sitting out with an upper-body injury.
Colorado | Chicago | |
Matt Duchene 1 | Points | Daniel Carcillo 1 |
Matt Duchene 1 | Goals | Daniel Carcillo 1 |
Chuck Kobasew 1 | Assists | David Bolland 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Andrew Shaw 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | Jonathan Toews 1 |
Semyon Varlamov .906 | Save Percentage | Ray Emery .909 |
Semyon Varlamov 29 | Saves | Ray Emery 20 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Colorado | 22 | 2 | 0-2 | 2-3 | 6 | 25 |
Chicago | 32 | 3 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 4 | 22 |