Avalanche end five-game losing streak

CHICAGO -- Coming off five straight losses, the Colorado Avalanche gave themselves something positive to think about during the Christmas break.
Nathan MacKinnon scored 25 seconds into overtime and Calvin Pickard made 38 saves to help the Avalanche defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 at United Center on Friday.

"Especially with the pending] break, we didn't want to just sit around and be negative," said MacKinnon, who beat Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford with a shot over the glove. "We have some positivity going into the break here and hopefully we can have a good stretch after it."
WATCH: [All Avalanche vs. Blackhawks highlights
Colorado entered with a 2-11-1 record in 14 games since they started the season 9-9-0. The Avalanche have 25 points, fewest in the NHL. The Blackhawks have 49 points, second to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Avalanche lost goalie Semyon Varlamov to a groin injury following a 6-0 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Pepsi Center on Thursday. Pickard stepped in and defeated the Blackhawks for the first time in five career appearances (1-4-0).
Corey Crawford nearly matched him with 32 saves for the Blackhawks in his first start following a 10-game absence while recovering from an appendectomy Dec. 3.
"I was just trying to feel good right from the start," said Crawford, who made 13 saves in a scoreless first period. "I was reading plays pretty good. That's the most important thing, seeing the puck well. I felt pretty good."

Jonathan Toews ended a 13-game goalless drought by scoring his fifth goal for the Blackhawks (22-9-5). Mikko Rantanen scored for the Avalanche (12-20-1).
The Blackhawks took a 1-0 lead on Toews' power-play goal at 11:52 of the second period, his first since Nov. 6. Toews tapped the puck in off a sharp-angled shot by Artemi Panarin from the left side of the net.
Colorado had a couple of good chances to tie it late in the second but Crawford stopped both, including a diving, stick save against Rantanen at 16:16.
Rantanen scored at 5:42 of the third. Standing in front of Crawford, he tied it 1-1 off assists by Tyson Barrie and MacKinnon.

Goal of the game

MacKinnon's goal was the first overtime winner of his NHL career and first goal since Dec. 11. It came on a 2-on-1 rush following a Blackhawks turnover. "I took a peak [at the pass], but I definitely was leaning toward shooting," MacKinnon said. "I'm comfortable coming down that right side, going short side, so I was definitely thinking shot."

Save of the game

Crawford's diving stick save against Rantanen with 3:44 left in the second protected the Blackhawks' 1-0 lead. Crawford had to dive backward to stop the puck.

Unsung performance of the game

Blackhawks rookie Vinnie Hinostroza missed the morning skate with flu-like symptoms but played 15:12. He centered the second line for injured center Artem Anisimov (upper body) and finished with four shots, two hits and won 5-of-10 faceoffs.

Highlight of the game

Pickard made two big saves late in the first to keep the game scoreless, using his blocker for both. Duncan Keith was denied off a one-timer with 1:32 left and Toews had a one-timer from the right faceoff circle stopped 27 seconds later.
They said it
"It's been tough. We haven't been scoring any goals [lately] and we've been letting in a ton. It wasn't like we were hanging on all game. We were pushing the pace and getting good plays. Crawford played a great game and so did [Pickard], so we're proud of ourselves tonight." -- Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon
"We know we had a dangerous team, knowing they got beat bad at home [Thursday] night, and they bounced back. Now we have a couple of days off to get refreshed and a fun week going into the [2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic]." -- Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville

Need to know

Anisimov missed his second straight game and right wing Marian Hossa (upper body) missed his first since leaving in the first period against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. … Varlamov stayed in Denver and has no timetable for his return. … Spencer Martin was recalled from San Antonio of the American Hockey League on Friday and backed up Pickard.

What's next

Avalanche: Host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, SNW, NHL.TV)
Blackhawks: Host the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; CSN-CH, TSN3, NHL.TV)