Bryan Bickell scores late in 3rd period to send Blackhawks past Avalanche, 3-2

DENVER - Bryan Bickell scored late in the third period and the Chicago Blackhawks overcame strong goaltending from Calvin Pickard to beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 Wednesday night.

Corey Crawford made 27 saves, and Jonathan Toews and Andrew Sharp also scored for Chicago. Patrick Kane had three assists.

Pickard, making his first start after winning two games in relief of Reto Berra, kept Colorado in the game with a career-high 42 saves. He left for an extra skater with 2:15 remaining, but Colorado couldn't tie it.

Ryan O'Reilly and Max Talbot scored for the Avalanche, who had won two consecutive games.

Colorado tied it 2-all on O'Reilly's third goal of the season at 3:36 of the third. Chicago stepped up the pressure but Pickard kept it a tie game until Bickell's go-ahead goal at 14:43.