CHICAGO — Hockey excitement has returned to Chicago, where the Blackhawks beat Colorado 6-2 on Monday night at the United Center and extended the Avalanche’s losing streak to four games.
With a team featuring marquee young stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, defenseman Brian Campbell, and two goalies who each make more than Lee Majors was worth as a bionic man, the Blackhawks again are packing the United Center.
From the Avalanche perspective, it almost makes you expect to see Colorado defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh tripping up Chicago’s Jeremy Roenick from behind in overtime as he’s breaking in on Patrick Roy.
Yes, it seems to have been that long since the Blackhawks were a hot ticket and much-discussed.
On Election Eve, the Blackhawks spotted the Avalanche a 1-0 lead after one period on Ben Guite’s second goal of the season before coming back for the win that made Chicago 6-3-3 — and 5-1-2 since former Colorado coach Joel Quenneville took over for the fired Denis Savard.
The Blackhawks’ first three goals against Colorado’s Peter Budaj came from Andrew Ladd and Troy Brouwer in the second period, and then from Cam Barker on a one-timer on a power play at 1:21 of the third.
Milan Hejduk had his eighth goal of the season for Colorado at 2:13 of the third to get the Avs within 3-2. Patrick Sharp’s shot from the slot made it 4-2 at 10:32, finishing off a Chicago odd-man rush 13 seconds after a thwarted Colorado power play. Ladd got his second of the game at 15:48, increasing the lead to three.
The Avalanche doesn’t practice today, then has home games against Minnesota on Thursday and Nashville on Saturday before embarking on a three-game road trip.
Colorado 1 0 1 — 2
Chicago 0 2 4 — 6
First period — 1, Colorado, Guite 2 (Clark, Foote), 16:22. Penalties — Sakic, Col (hooking), 5:07; Chicago bench, served by Byfuglien (too many men), 7:48; Sharp, Chi (slashing), 13:48.
Second period — 2, Chicago, Ladd 2 (Byfuglien, Bolland), 3:54. 3, Chicago, Brouwer 1 (Sharp, Johnson), 17:41. Penalties — Laperriere, Col, major (fighting), 7:58; Eager, Chi, major (fighting), 7:58; Sharp, Chi (holding stick), 10:18; McLeod, Col, major (fighting), 12:56; Burish, Chi, major (fighting), 12:56; Liles, Col (hooking), 19:20.
Third period — 4, Chicago, Barker 2 (Campbell, Kane), 1:21 (pp). 5, Colorado, Hejduk 8 (Smyth, Liles), 2:13. 6, Chicago, Sharp 8 (Toews, Ladd), 10:32. 7, Chicago, Ladd 3 (Byfuglien, Bolland), 15:48. 8, Chicago, Sharp 9 (Kane, Seabrook), 17:26.
Penalties — Hejduk, Col (hooking), :59; Ladd, Chi (holding), 8:19; McLeod, Col, double minor (roughing), 16:39; Fraser, Chi (roughing), 16:39; Burish, Chi, minor-game misconduct (roughing), 16:39.
Shots on goal — Colorado 11-10-5 — 26. Chicago 11-15-11 — 37. Power-play opportunities — Colorado 0 of 4; Chicago 1 of 3. Goalies — Colorado, Budaj 3-6-0 (37 shots-31 saves). Chicago, Khabibulin 4-1-2 (26-24). Attendance — 21,142 (21,142). T — 2:20. Referees — Tom Kowal, Brad Meier. Linesmen — Andy McElman, Mark Pere.
Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
