Eurolanche

Avalanche Looks To Solve Blackhawks

Season series: Patrick Kane has dominated the first two games for the Chicago Blackhawks, who won each time. Kane assisted on all three Chicago goals in the first victory against the Colorado Avalanche and had two goals and an assist in the second, which was the first game following the Christmas break for each team.

Avalanche team scope: Colorado coach Patrick Roy made an interesting change in a 4-3 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday when he moved Croatian rookie forward Borna Rendulic up to the second line with Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene.

The Avalanche came within 1:01 of extending its point streak to three games, but Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard broke a 3-3 tie on a shot from the blue line that deflected off a Colorado player and into the back of the net.

"Last year, we had all the bounces, and this year, it's totally different," Roy said on Monday. "We didn't see goals like this all last year and this year, it's totally different. At the same time, we just need to continue what we're doing well."

Goalie Semyon Varlamov is expected to get the start.

Blackhawks team scope: Chicago has developed a trend of allowing the first goal. The Blackhawks are 3-2-0 in their past five games, but yielded the first goal in the first period in all five. One of those games was the second win against the Avalanche.

They needed to overcome four one-goal deficits Sunday to beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 in overtime.

"It's not fun playing catch-up," Kane said. "We're better off when we get up with a lead, wait for them to make mistakes and then use our skill and offense to pounce on them even more."

Right wing Marian Hossa didn't practice Monday, but he is expected to play against Colorado. Rookie Teuvo Terevainen, who made his season debut Sunday on the fourth line, centered the third line in practice Monday. Goalie Corey Crawford, who's allowed 14 goals in the past five games, will make his sixth straight start.

-- by NHL.com --

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