Posted 2009/11/07 at 2:27 am EST
DENVER, Nov. 7, 2009 (Reuters) — Colorado outlasted the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 after another marathon shootout on Friday, improving to 6-0 at home to start the season.
It took eight shootout rounds to decide the outcome of Friday's game -- Avalanche winger Chris Stewart converted before Chicago's Dustin Byfuglien missed to end the game.
Colorado (12-3-2) were on the receiving end of a 4-3 loss to Chicago (8-5-2) on October 10 in a game that required nine shootout rounds.
Colorado goaltender Craig Anderson finished with 29 saves and Ryan O'Reilly netted two goals to help pull the NHL-leading Avalanche out of an early 2-0 deficit.
"We kept battling out there," O'Reilly told reporters.
"It seems like we like to play from being down by two. It worked out well."
Chicago got off to a fast start with goals from Byfuglien and Duncan Keith in the first 10 minutes. O'Reilly got his team on the board with a backhand score eight minutes later.
David Jones tied the game at 7:43 into the second and O'Reilly added his second to give Colorado the lead a minute later.
Blackhawks winger Andrew Ladd forced overtime with a wrister at 16:40 in the second. There was no further scoring in the third period or overtime.
Antti Niemi recorded 19 saves for the Blackhawks, while Anderson got the best of his former team having spent the first few years of his career as a backup in Chicago.
Colorado's O'Reilly, 18, was a second-round selection in the 2009 draft and is tied for second on the team in points.
"What I like about his game -- this guy does so many little things that a lot of people probably don't notice," said Colorado coach Joe Sacco. "I'm pretty impressed by his ability to think the game out there."
The Avalanche have made strong turnaround from last year when they finished last in the Western Conference.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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