Monday Morning Rewind: 3/6/13 vs. Colorado Avalanche

Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) shoots the puck against Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) during the first period at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports[/caption

March 6, 2013: 8PM

United Center, Chicago, Illinois

Colorado Avalanche (8-9-4) @ Chicago Blackhawks (20-0-3)

Recap:

March 6’s contest against the Avalanche proved two old adages true; Don’t take anyone lightly, and don’t count anyone out.

The Chicago Blackhawks came into the tilt with one of the NHL’s best records. Their opponent, the Colorado Avalanche; one of the league’s worst. The United Center crowd was thirsty for a blowout win, to extend the Blackhawks’ streak of 23 games without a regulation loss.

Early on in the game, it looked like fans would get their wish. Andrew Shaw tipped Brent Seabrook’s point shot past Semyon Varlamov, and the Blackhawks had a 1-0 lead just under 10 minutes into the game.

The lead wasn’t made to last however, and the Avalanche picked their game up and equalized the score with 1:40 left in the period. John Mitchell picked up a pass from Chuck Kobasew and drove the net, making a smooth move past Chicago netminder Ray Emery for his seventh goal of the season.

The Blackhawks came out for the second period firing on all cylinders, but after a multitude of missed chances, Colorado began to take over. Matt Duchene converted for the Avalanche offense at 13:17, and sent the United Center fans into an eerie silence.

It didn’t get any better from there for the Blackhawks, and they were lucky to get out of the Second without giving up any more goals, as they spent a lot of time in their own end, even though they generated two more shots than the Avalanche in the frame.

The third was a much better outing for the Blackhawks, and the came out looking like they actually had legs under them. An early penalty killed momentum for Chicago, until Jonathan Toews scored a shorthanded goal just three minutes into the period. The third remained a back-and-forth frame with chances on both sides.

With a minute left to go in regulation, both teams had their checking lines out. There was a scrum in front of the net, and with 40 seconds left, Daniel Carcillo found the puck and backhanded it into the net, and sent the Blackhawks fans crazy.

The Blackhawks hung on, and took their 24th straight game without a regulation loss.

Hindsight:

It seemed like the Blackhawks were tailing off. They had nothing left in the tank to give after their incredible run. The Avalanche played extremely well, and the Blackhawks learned that they can’t take amy teams lightly. Luckily they learned that lesson in the second intermission, and not after the game. Good teams find ways to win, however, and everyone contributes at some point on a winning team like the Blackhawks. Carcillo’s first goal of the season was by far his most important, and the Blackhawks won the last game of the ‘Streak’ because of it.

Carcillo is usually making ‘Hawks fans angry, but on that night he was the hero Don’t count anyone out.

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