The Chicago Blackhawks Get Buried By The Colorado Avalanche 3-2!

Jan 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie

(1) tries to block a loose puck as Chicago Blackhawks left wing

(20) and center

(65) try to bat it in the net during the third period at the United Center. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Blackhawks came into tonight’s game feeling great after a 5-3 win against the Oilers. The Avalanche were coming off big win against the struggling Minnesota Wild. In their previous four meetings, the Avs and Blackhawks had split the series. Each game was decided by three goals or more.  The story of tonight’s game was the inability of the Blackhawks special teams and the GREAT PLAY of Semyon Varlamov. In my mind Varlamov was the reason the Avalanche won this game.

The Blackhawks outshot the Avalanche in every period and dominated the majority of the game yet ended up with the overtime loss. Varlamov was outstanding tonight. He stopped 46 of 48 shots he faced.  Meanwhile the Blackhawks power play went 0-5 tonight. The Blackhawks Penalty Kill allowed two goals in four chances.

Here is your period recap:

1^st period: The Blackhawks dominated the 1^st period outshooting the Avalanche 13-9. In the first period there were five penalties committed, three by the Avalanche and two by the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks would not capitalize on their three chances. The Avs made the Blackhawks pay on both of their power play opportunities.  Tyson Barrie scored his first goal of the game at 14:58 gone by in the first period. Ryan O’Reilly scored just over a minute later at 16:00 gone by in the first.  Despite being outshot and out played for most of the first period the Avalanche would lead 2-0 after the first period.

2^nd period: In the second period, the Blackhawks continued their domination of the Avalanche.  The Avalanche parade to penalty box continued. They had two more players spend time in the box. The Blackhawks were unable to take advantage of their scoring chances on the Power Play. However, it was not all gloom and doom for the Blackhawks, Johnny Oduya deflected a Brandon Saad shot to put the Blackhawks on the board. The Blackhawks outshot the Avalanche 16 to 6 but still trailed in the score 2-1 after two periods.

3^rd period: In the third period, the Blackhawks continued to pepper Varlamov with shots. Varlamov stood tall for most of the period. There was a chink in the armor and Andrew Shaw made him pay. Shaw scored the equalizer early in the third period. Unlike the first periods, there was only one penalty committed. It was by the Blackhawks. The Avalanche did not score on this power play.  Corey Crawford, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook, each saved a sure fire coach late in the period. The Avalanche had a great surge to end the game. At the end of regulation, the score was tied 2-2.

Overtime: In the overtime period, the Blackhawks would have some great scoring chances early on. The Captain Jonathan Toews took a penalty late in the OT. As it has happened all season long the Blackhawks penalty kill would not come through. Tyson Barrie scored with less than a minute left in the overtime on a great pass from Matt Duchene. This was Barrie’s second goal of the game and the game winner. The final was 3-2 in favor of the Avalanche.

NEWS AND NOTES:

• The Blackhawks are 4-1-5 in their last ten games.
• The Blackhawks have not scored an Overtime goal since Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals last season. The famous Shinpads goal scored by Shaw.
• This was second consecutive start by Andrew Shaw at second line center.
• The Blackhawks were 5-0 in OT last season. They are 0-5 in OT this season.

The Blackhawks homestand continues on Friday at 7:00pm when the NHL hottest team, the Anaheim Ducks come to town.

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