DENVER (AP) - Marek Svatos scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche broke through against Nikolai Khabibulin for a 6-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.
The Avalanche scored three times in the first period. Milan Hejduk started it off with a wrist shot from the left circle that he flipped over Khabibulin's glove. Svatos added a goal two minutes later when he took a pass from Tyler Arnason, who stole the puck from Adam Burish in front of the crease.
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| Brad Richardson (12) attempts to put a shot past Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin during the second period on Wednesday. Richardson had a goal in the first period to help Colorado to the 6-3 win. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) |
With 90 seconds left in the first period, Brad Richardson sent a one-timer between Khabibulin's pads for his second goal of the season and first since Nov. 24 against Calgary.
Robert Lang's shot that trickled into the left corner of the net past Jose Theodore made it 3-1 in the second period, but Andrew Brunette restored Colorado's three-goal lead with a shot from the slot past Khabibulin on the power play. Hejduk and Svatos were credited with assists.
Arnason's fifth goal made it 5-1 early in the third period. Svatos added his second at 13:56, giving him four two-goal games this season.
Theodore, who stopped 10 of 11 shots, was replaced by Peter Budaj to start the third period because of back spasms. Budaj didn't face a shot on goal until 4:43 remained.
Yanic Perreault scored an unassisted goal that made it 6-2 and scored again with 23 seconds left.
Notes: The Avs had lost their first two games against Chicago, including a 2-1 shootout Jan. 18 at home. ... These teams wrap up their season series on Feb. 17 in Chicago when the Blackhawks return from a seven-game trip that began Wednesday night. ... The Avs play 10 of their 14 games in February on the road.
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