Colorado outshot Chicago 36-28 in the game and finished with more than double the total shot attempts of the Hawks, holding a 74-36 advantage.
The Avs registered double-digit shots on goal each period and went into the first intermission with a 14-9 edge in that department. Colorado had 10 of the first 13 shots of the outing.
"I think we came out really good. We couldn't capitalize on chances there," said Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who stopped 26 pucks. "PK stepped up, PK was really good, [we] took less penalties I think. Overall, last few games are good games to build off of. I think we did some really good things, and we got to keep continuing to play that way."
Colorado finished with six shots during five power-play chances, but the team couldn't light the lamp on any of them. Neither could Chicago, which finished 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
"It's a tough one. We played a good game and their goalie made some good stops and our power play didn't capitalize," said defenseman Tyson Barrie, who matched a season-high with three blocked shots. "We're moving it around good, but at some point you got to score."
Artem Anisimov had the Hawks' game-winning tally, knocking in a loose puck near the goal line 79 seconds into the third period.
The Avs responded by continuing to pressure Chicago in the offensive zone for the next 18 minutes, but they couldn't get another shot past goalie Collin Delia, who recorded his second career win.
"We were pushing hard. They got that second goal, and we wanted to come back and tie it up," Barrie said. "I think everyone was pushing in the right direction. We were a desperate hockey club."
OFF TO THE DESERT:The Avalanche wraps up its sixth back-to-back set of the season on Saturday at the Arizona Coyotes.
It is the last contest for the team before four days off for the NHL Holiday Break, and it is the end of a stretch that has Colorado playing six games in nine days.
The Avs won 5-1 in the first matchup of the season against the Coyotes on Nov. 23.
Goaltender Semyon Varlamov will get the start.
WILSON WEEK TO WEEK:Colin Wilson didn't finish the game after suffering an upper-body injury early in the third period.
"I would say week-to-week, not day-to-day," Bednar said postgame of Wilson's status. "He is still getting evaluated, so I don't know the whole story yet."
Wilson tripped over Chicago's Andreas Martinsen--who fell to the ice after losing an edge--and went head over heels while chasing the puck in the Colorado zone 3:36 into the stanza.
Bednar said the team will recall a forward from the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles for Saturday's game in Arizona.
Wilson has 13 points (eight goals and five assists) in 35 outings this season and assisted on Colorado's goal on Friday.
CHICAGO KID SCORES:J.T. Compher picked up his first-career goal and point against his hometown club.
The Northbrook, Illinois, native tied the game 1-1 at 2:58 of the second after taking a behind-the-net pass from Alexander Kerfoot and scoring on a wrist shot from the low slot. It was Compher's ninth goal of the season, which ranks fifth on the club despite only playing in 20 of 36 games due to injury.
He was skating in his sixth career contest against the Blackhawks.
LINDHOLM IN DENVER:Defenseman Anton Lindholm made his season debut after being recalled from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL.
Lindholm, who had played in 60 games with the Avs over the past two seasons, was paired on defense with fellow Swede Patrik Nemeth to begin the contest.
"It's good to get him back," Bednar said of Lindholm after morning skate. "We know he's not going to cheat us from his effort and try. That is what we need, someone to skate and play hard."
