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Makar Scores Twice as Avalanche Top Blackhawks 3-1 to Stay NHL’s No. 1

The win kept Colorado at an NHL-best 87 points with a seven-point cushion over Minnesota.

Overview

  • Gavin Brindley netted the winner at 7:31 of the third period, his sixth of the season and fourth game-winner, snapping a 26-game goal drought.
  • Connor Bedard opened the scoring on a first-period power play for Chicago, which has lost eight of its last nine and totaled 12 goals in those defeats.
  • Colorado killed two penalties early in the third to protect the lead, with Mackenzie Blackwood making 14 saves including a key glove stop on Bedard.
  • Spencer Knight turned aside 32 of 34 shots for Chicago, which had just nine shots through two periods before Makar sealed it with an empty-net goal.
  • Coach Jared Bednar pointed to discipline as an issue, noting Colorado has taken 16 penalties across the past three games.