NHL 26 Predicts Avalanche vs. Blackhawks

The Colorado Avalanche will earn a playoff berth tonight at United Center. If NHL 26 has their way, the Avalanche will get the victory in a 2-1 effort. Nic Roy and Brett Kulak scored for the Avs and Mackenzie Blackwood made 17 saves in the winning effort.

Brett Kulak scored a virtual goal in this one. Andrew Mangiapane lit the lamp in the third period for the Blackhawks and Spencer Knight stopped 35 of 37 shots. First Period Just over four minutes into the game, Knight fumbled a routine cover up and had to make a diving stop, but that prevented the Avalanche from scoring the opening goal of the game.

At nearly the six-minute mark of the frame, Nazem Kadri ripped a slap shot from the slot, but Knight made the blocker save. Halfway through the period, the Avs had outshot the Blackhawks 6-1. The second shot for Chicago came off a one-timer blast from Hawks defenseman Alex Vlasic, but Blackwood was quick with the glove.

At the end of the first, the game was scoreless, while the Avalanche held a 12-6 advantage in shots on net. Second Period Colorado took a 1-0 lead 5:08 into the second period when Roy one-timed a feed from Josh Manson from the slot that clanged off the left post and into the net. Manson initiated the breakout, but rather than pass, he carried the puck through the neutral zone and deep into the Blackhawks defensive zone before finding Roy waiting for his opportunity, and he made the most of it On the next play, following a poor clear from the Blackhawks, Kulak intercepted the puck in front of the net and fired it by Knight, who had no chance of catching up to it.