Blackwood Holds Steady as Avalanche Win 5-2 in Chicago
The Colorado Avalanche won 5-2 at the United Center, and the scoreboard matched what happened on the ice: Colorado had the better looks for most of the night. Its chances added up to 3.39 expected goals (how many goals a team's chances are usually worth). Chicago's added up to 2.68.
The gap on the scoreboard was wider than that, and much of it came down to the two goalies. Spencer Knight stopped 24 of 28 shots for Chicago and allowed more than Colorado's chances usually produce. At the other end, Mackenzie Blackwood made 21 saves on 23 shots.
Jaden Schwartz and Nazem Kadri scored two goals each. Devon Toews added a goal and an assist, and T.J. Hughes set up two.
The posts and crossbars were busy too. Chicago hit iron three times: Frank Nazar twice and Andrew Mangiapane once. Colorado's Noah Juulsen also hit iron once. For the 4-9-1 Blackhawks, those near-misses were part of another loss. Colorado improves to 8-5-1.
