Blackhawks Shutout Avalanche 4-0
(WSCR) - The Chicago Blackhawks prevented a four-game season sweep from the Avalanche Wednesday night. Chicago scored their first goal seven minutes into the first period and their second less than a minute later. Their other two goals came during the second and third periods.
Corey Crawford made 24 saves for his second straight shutout and Dave Bolland and Fernando Pisani had a goal and an assist apiece Wednesday night to lead the Chicago Blackhawks past the Colorado Avalanche 4-0.
It was Chicago's first win in four games against the Avalanche this season in their final regular-season meeting.
The defending Stanley Cup champions scored two quick goals in the first period and Crawford made it stand up after the rookie goaltender blanked the Islanders 5-0 on Sunday.
Troy Brouwer scored Chicago's first goal and Jack Skille added a rebound goal in the third to help the Blackhawks win their third straight.
Brouwer scored on a rebound 7:08 into the game, collecting the puck after a slap shot by Duncan Keith was stopped by Peter Budaj and the Avalanche didn't clear.
Forty seconds later, Pisani's shot at the goal went off the boards behind the net and ricocheted to the other side to a wide open Bolland, who converted into an empty net with Budaj out of position.
Bolland's nifty pass from above the right circle hit Pisani in stride just as he reached the left side of the net and he tipped it in to put Chicago ahead 3-0 at 10:17 of the second.
Chicago, ranked 28th in penalty killing entering the game, fought off two power plays in the first period behind solid play from Crawford, who stopped nine shots.
Crawford preserved his shutout - the third of his career - with two nice stops on Philippe Depuis early in the third and then snuffed T.J. Galiardi on a short-handed breakway late in the period. Crawford is now 14-3-1 in his last 18 starts dating to Nov. 14.
Pudaj had 27 saves.
Notes: When the glass above the boards was cracked with 2:07 left in the second period, the teams retreated to their locker rooms while it was being repaired. After the intermission, the teams then played the final 2:07 of the second just before beginning the third with a short break in between so the goalies could switch ends. ... Avalanche D Kevin Shattenkirk, who didn't play Monday night in a win over Detroit because of a foot injury, was back in the lineup. Winger Cody McLeod, who'd been sidelined 10 of the previous 11 games with a groin injury, was scratched again. ... Most deflating of the three previous losses to the Avalanche for the Blackhawks was Colorado's 7-5 win in mid-December. That's when the Avalanche, trailing 5-4, scored three goals in the final 2:24.
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