"It was the type of game that, if things had gone like they have of late, the Avalanche would have found a way to lose. Instead, the Avs just plain outskated the Chicago Blackhawks and won going away Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center.

A tie game in the third period turned into a solid 5-2 triumph for the Avs in an arena filled with numerous Blackhawks fans who might have raided Stubhub.com to fill the lower bowl."