(Sports Network) - It's already midway through the season and the Chicago
Blackhawks still have yet to lose in regulation.
The Blackhawks will try to extend their amazing season-opening point streak on
Friday when they visit the Colorado Avalanche for the second part of a home-
and-home series
Chicago earned a dramatic win to keep the streak alive in its most recent
outing, beating the Avalanche, 3-2, thanks to Daniel Carcillo's go-ahead score
with under a minute to play in regulation. The victory pushed the Blackhawks'
record this season to 21-0-3 and the team hasn't lost a regular season game in
regulation since March 25 of last year, a mark of 24-0-6.
As a result of their fantastic start, the Blackhawks are leading the Central
Division by 19 points over Detroit and they have a 10-point edge over Anaheim
for the top seed in the Western Conference.
Also, the Blackhawks extended their franchise-best winning streak to 11 games
thanks to Carcillo's game-winner with 49.3 seconds to play. Andrew Shaw and
Jonathan Toews also scored, while Ray Emery made 20 saves in the front end of
the home-and-home at United Center.
"You know we don't talk about it, to be honest," said Carcillo. "We just take
it day-by-day. We'll enjoy this tonight and then get back at it tomorrow to
prepare for Friday."
Wednesday's win did not come without a cost, however, as forward Patrick Sharp
suffered an upper-body injury and is not with the team in Denver.
Sharp joins another key Chicago forward, Marian Hossa, on the shelf. Hossa
missed Wednesday's game with an upper-body injury suffered the previous night
against Minnesota, but there's a good chance he could play on Friday. Sharp
and Hossa are tied for third on the Blackhawks with 18 points this season.
Shaw was also hurt in the opener of this home-and-home, and could miss
Thursday's test with a head injury.
Colorado has won three of four and five of its last seven home games against
the Blackhawks. The Avs had also won three straight in this series before
losing Wednesday.
John Mitchell and Matt Duchene each posted a goal Wednesday for the Avalanche,
who have lost six of their last seven games. Semyon Varlamov gave up all three
goals on 31 shots.
"We did some things well," Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco said. "To come away
without any points is disappointing."
The Avs played Wednesday without winger Milan Hejduk, who has sat out two
straight with an injured torso. He is questionable for Friday's rematch.
Chicago is 10-0-2 as the road club this season and Colorado is 6-2-1 at the
Pepsi Center.
The Sports Network