Crawford Pulled As Hawks Fall To Avalanche 5-1

DENVER (AP) — Semyon Varlamov stopped 36 shots, Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Gabriel Landeskog and John Mitchell also scored during Colorado's three-goal first period. P.A. Parenteau and Cody McLeod added goals in the second and third for Colorado, which snapped a three-game skid.

Brandon Saad scored for the Blackhawks, who failed to get at least two goals for the first time this season. Colorado ended Chicago's NHL-record streak of 24 consecutive games with at least a point to start a season in a 6-2 win last March.

Antti Raanta made 14 saves in his NHL debut for the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks. He played the final 46:23 in relief of Corey Crawford, who allowed three goals on seven shots.

The Blackhawks had their opportunities in outshooting Colorado 37-23. They had several quality chances to get back in the game in the second period but couldn't put one past Varlamov.

Colorado stumbled after winning 14 of its first 16 games but capitalized on its chances in the first period this time. Stastny scored when Brent Seabrook's pass off the boards ricocheted to him in the slot, and he beat Crawford with a slap shot.

Landeskog gave Colorado a two-goal lead when he redirected Andre Benoit's shot from the point past Crawford with 7:39 left in the period. Just 56 seconds later, Mitchell made it 3-0.

Raanta, recalled Sunday, replaced Crawford after Mitchell's goal. He faced only seven shots over the next 25 minutes but allowed his first goal late in the second period.

After the Blackhawks had several strong chances in front of Varlamov, Parenteau skated down the left boards and beat Raanta with a shot from the circle to make it 4-0 with 1:22 left in the second.

McLeod scored his first goal of the season on a rebound 1:44 into the third.

NOTES: There were only two penalties called in the game, one on each team. ... Avalanche C Matt Duchene is expected to miss at least a week with an oblique injury sustained in Saturday's loss to Florida. ... Blackhawks LW Bryan Bickell left the game after crashing into the net in the first period. He didn't return. ... Chicago forward Marian Hossa missed his third straight game with a lower-body injury. ... Colorado placed forward Alex Tanguay (knee) and defenseman Ryan Wilson (back) on injured reserve and recalled C Brad Malone and D Tyson Barrie from Lake Erie of the AHL.

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