The Colorado Avalanche marched into the Windy City and swept the Chicago Blackhawks in the second of back to back home games.

Tomas Fleischmann

Photo Courtesy of Tom Turk - The Hockey Writers

Round two of the home and home series between the Avs and the Hawks started of a bit different tonight. The Blackhawks outshot the Avs in the first period, 13-6, but the Burgundy and Blue walked away with the momentum from a lone goal scored by Greg Mauldin.

The Hawks would strike back early in the second period on a Brian Bickell laser shot. Through three games against the Avalanche this season, Bickell has netted a goal in each. The Avs also got their first power play opportunity at the end of the second, but due to some good defense by Chicago, were unable to convert.

There was a lot of static in the air in the third period as the Avs and Hawks traded shots on goal, tied at one. Then Jordan Hendry took a four minute penalty for a high stick on Dan Winnik, drawing blood. The Avs needed to convert.

Convert they did. Two goals were tallied by newcomer Tomas Fleischmann, one for each minor penalty. Paul Stastny fed Fleischmann the first goal from the right side and Flash banged it home. The second when Hawks goalie Corey Crawford scrambled on the ice looking for the rebounding loose puck. Fleischmann had a clean backhand shot at an open net.

Nearly three minutes later, Jassen Cullimore put a hard shot on Craig Anderson, who didn’t quite pinch the shot into his leg pads. The puck trickled onto blue ice and Jonathan Toews was fast enough to put it over the line, 3-2 Avs.

Fleischmann wasn’t done though as he scored his first career hat trick at 14:42 of the third period, giving the Avs the go ahead goal. Troy Bouwer was able to notch a final score for the Hawks with just a second left on the clock, but the Avalanche came out on top 4-3 in front of a booing Chicago crowd.

Notes: Paul Stastny was run into the boards and left the game in the third period with a neck injury.

What did you think of the game? Do you think Stastny will be back after running into the boards?

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