The Chicago Blackhawks (3-1-1) invade Pepsi Center tonight and will face off against a Colorado Avalanche team that has won five games in a row on the road to improve their record to 5-1-0 on the young season. The Blackhawks have recorded a point in four straight games since losing the season opener in Dallas. The Hawks come in with a 1-1-0 road record and will look to continue to accumulate early season points against a young and hungry Avalanche team. Colorado won three of the four meetings last season with the Hawks loan victory a 4-0 home win in January.
Chicago comes into this game after a dominating road performance on Tuesday night that saw the Hawks double Phoenix in shots and fly off to Denver with a 5-2 victory. The penalty kill was perfect and Dave Bolland added a shorthanded goal. The Hawks have allowed just one power play goal against all season and are currently 4th in the NHL in PK%. Bryan Bickell also scored for the Hawks and the big winger now has a four game point streak with two goals and two assists. The power play was the downfall and needs to get going. Marian Hossa scored on a two man advantage for the Hawks but the power play was just 1-5 for the game. The Hawks are just 3-22 on the power play on the season good for 18th in the NHL.
Colorado comes in following the first 5-0 road trip in franchise history. Colorado is the league’s number one power play team converting 7-22 chances. The ageless Milan Hejduk leads the Avalanche in scoring with three goals and two assists for five points. The Avalanche are bigger on defense and will be a lot harder to play against. Colorado brought in two new goaltenders in Semyon Varlamov and former Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe trophy winner Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Varlamov is 3-1-0 with a .938 save percentage and 2.17 goals against average. Giguere has been a healthy back up going 2-0 with a .933 % and 1.49 GA.
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