Avs end skid with win in Chicago
CHICAGO -- The Colorado Avalanche ended their five-game losing streak with a 2-1 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks thanks to a wrister from Nathan MacKinnon past the glove of Corey Crawford 25 seconds into the extra period.
MacKinnon's ninth goal of the season sent the Avalanche into the Christmas break with their first win since Dec. 11. He had an assist, too, and leads Colorado with 23 points on the season.
Colorado, entering the game with the fewest points in the NHL, improved to 12-20-1 on the season and got its eighth road win. Chicago (22-9-5) is now 13-3-4 at home this season.
Calvin Pickard, playing for the injured Semyon Varlamov, saved 38 shots and improved to 6-6-1 this season.
Crawford, playing for the first time since Dec. 1 after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Dec. 3, made 32 saves and is 12-6-3 on the season.
The teams were scoreless through the first period and one drought ended and another streak continued when the Blackhawks got the scoring underway with Jonathan Toews' first goal since Nov. 6 11:52 into the second. His power-play goal was his fifth of the season, ending a 13-game goalless streak, with the assists going to Duncan Keith and Artemi Panarin.
Panarin's 21st assist of the season extended his points streak to seven games. Keith's shot on goal ricocheted to Panarin, whose rebound got put in by Toews.
The Avalanche scored its first goal in eight periods 5:42 into the final period when Mikko Rantanen redirected a Tyson Barrie shot past Crawford. It was Rantanen's fifth goal of the season, while Barrie notched his 12th assist and Nathan MacKinnon got his team-high 14th assist.
It was the first goal Crawford has allowed to Colorado in 64 shots after he notched a shutout with 38 saves against the Avalanche on Nov. 3.
NOTES: Blackhawks G Corey Crawford returned to the starting lineup for the first time since undergoing an emergency appendectomy Dec. 3. ... Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov did not make the trip because of a groin injury. Calvin Pickard started in goal while back-up duties fell to Spencer Martin, who was recalled from San Antonio of the American Hockey League. ... Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa did not play because of an upper-body injury he sustained Tuesday against Ottawa. ... Avalanche D Patrick Wiercioch was a healthy scratch. ... Blackhawks C Artem Anisimov remained out with an upper-body injury sustained Saturday night against the Blues. Anisimov was placed on injured reserve, allowing the Blackhawks to recall Tanner Kero from Rockford of the AHL. ... Avalanche D Eric Gelinas was back in the lineup after missing the last two games as a healthy scratch.