Nazem Kadri and Jaden Schwartz scored two goals apiece to lift the visiting Colorado Avalanche to a 5-2 victory against the skidding Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
After falling behind 2-0, the Avalanche ripped off the final five goals to stop a three-game road losing streak. Devon Toews had a goal and assist, including an empty-netter to seal the result at 17:38 of the third period. T.J. Hughes tallied two assists
Colorado won its season-best third straight while Chicago has lost three straight and six of seven.
Wyatt Kaiser opened the scoring for the Blackhawks just 57 seconds into the game, as his long wrist shot from inside the point deflected off the stick of Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and past goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.
Chicago stretched the advantage to 2-0 at 7:05 of the first when Roman Kantserov beat Blackwood on a one-timer from the right circle to convert a 2-on-1 chance with Connor Bedard.
The Avalanche appeared to draw closer midway through the period but a Chicago challenge revealed a Colorado player interfered with Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight to nullify a would-be goal on a redirection.
Colorado nonetheless regrouped soon after to tie the game with a pair of goals 26 seconds apart. Kadri got the Avalanche on the board at 15:23 of the first, diving to jam a loose puck past Knight. Schwartz then took a Hughes feed to score on a one-timer at 15:49, making it 2-2.
Kadri netted a power-play goal at 13:38 of the second period to give the Avalanche the lead, tipping home a shot from Makar moments after drawing a penalty.
Schwartz tallied his second goal of the game with 10.6 seconds left in the second period on another redirection, getting a piece of a Sam Malinski shot through traffic.
The Blackhawks generated some strong chances on four power plays throughout the game but were unable to convert. A prime opportunity at even strength went for naught early in the third after Frank Nazar weaved through the defense and sent a backhand from the right circle that ricocheted off the crossbar and far post.
Chicago’s Patrick Kane left the game with an injury late in the second period. Kantserov stretched his point streak to five games while Colorado’s Artturi Lehkonen saw his point streak stop at nine games.
Blackwood made 21 saves while Knight stopped 24 shots.
–Field Level Media
