CHICAGO – Scott Wedgwood made 22 saves for his first shutout and the Colorado Avalanche extended their winning streak to nine games with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.
Cale Makar scored late in the second period for the NHL-leading Avalanche, whose run is the team’s longest since nine consecutive wins from March 4-24, 2024. Colorado improves to 16-1-5 and has 13 consecutive points (11-0-2) since its only regulation loss at Boston on Oct. 25.
Spencer Knight made 25 saves for the Blackhawks, who have lost three in a row after a six-game (5-0-1) point streak.
Wedgwood’s ninth career shutout gave the Avalanche two in two nights. Mackenzie Blackwood made 35 saves as Colorado cruised to a 3-0 win in Nashville on Saturday.
Wedgewood, a backup during most of his career, leads the NHL with 13 wins and enters with a league-best 2.23 goals against average.
Makar leads all NHL defensemen with nine goals and 29 points. Trysten Nielsen, skating in his fourth NHL game, set up Makar’s goal for his first point.
The Blackhawks dominated a scoreless first round, outshooting Colorado 11–2 and testing Wedgwood on several close occasions. His sharpest save may have been on Ryan Greene, who fired a one-timer when he was alone at the crease with 5:42 left.
The Avalanche pushed back in the second and outscored Chicago 19–1.
Makar finally connected on Colorado’s second 19th shot of the game, firing in a rebound from the left circle with 1:39 left. The goal was set up when Knight’s clearing pass was picked up by Nielsen in the slot, then Nielsen turned and took the first shot from the right circle.
Chicago applied pressure late in the third, but Wedgwood made several close saves, including a point-blank stop on Frank Nazar with 43 seconds remaining and Knight pulled for an extra attacker.
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