chris-stewartAvs move to 6-0 at home with 4-3 shootout win

DENVER — Chris Stewart scored in the eighth round of the shootout, helping the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche remain unbeaten at home with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Dustin Byfuglien had a chance to tie, but sent his slap shot just wide. The two teams engaged in a nine-round shootout on Oct. 10, with the Blackhawks winning.

Ryan O’Reilly scored twice for Colorado in regulation, while David Jones added a short-handed goal.

The Avalanche moved to 6-0 at Pepsi Center this season, matching the franchise record for consecutive home wins to start a season.

Byfuglien, Duncan Keith and Andrew Ladd scored for the Blackhawks, who lost for the second straight night.

Craig Anderson returned to the net after receiving a rare night off. The Avalanche goalie stopped 29 shots, including a vital save in overtime when he turned back Patrick Sharp’s shot.

Anderson had his string of 15 straight starts interrupted Wednesday night when he was spelled by Peter Budaj, who was back after a bout with swine flu.

The Avalanche missed their first two attempts in the shootout, while Patrick Kane scored as he dribbled a puck through Anderson’s legs.

Antti Niemi had a chance to preserve the win, only to have Colorado’s final shooter, Marek Svatos, score high on him to force extra rounds.

Niemi finished with 19 saves.

Chicago had two quality cracks at knocking in the winner in the final minute of regulation, but John Madden’s shot sailed just wide of the net and Tomas Kopecky sent one over the goal.

O’Reilly and Jones scored 59 seconds apart in the second period to give the Avalanche a 3-2 lead. Jones had a short-handed goal as he flew down the left side and flipped the puck past Niemi. It was Jones’ second goal this season with the Avalanche a skater down.

Late in the second, Chicago tied the game at 3 when Ladd poked in the puck that was sitting in front of the net.

Both teams boast a bench full of youthful energy, with the average age on each roster just a shade under 27 years old.

However, Chicago was without one of their young stars as captain Jonathan Toews missed a sixth straight game with a concussion.

Kane and Kris Versteeg helped picked up the slack, each assisting on two goals in an entertaining first period.

Chicago jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a power-play goal by Byfuglien early in the game, followed by Keith’s shot over Anderson’s shoulder just over 4 minutes later.

The Avalanche rallied late in the first as the rookie O’Reilly backhanded a shot into the net.

O’Reilly and fellow rookie Matt Duchene are part of Colorado’s youth movement. Duchene played despite missing a day of practice with a sore shoulder.

Matt Hendricks was activated before the game from the injured reserve and wasted no time getting into a scuffle. Barely 2 minutes into the game, Hendricks and Colin Fraser exchanged some shoves near the Chicago bench.

Both were sent to the bench to serve 5 minutes for fighting. Hendricks has missed the last five games with a groin injury.

NOTES: Avalanche D Ruslan Salei (back) said he’s making steady progress toward a return. Asked how much longer he’d be sidelined, Salei said, “More than a week, less than a month.” … The Avs recently sent D Tom Preissing (knee) to Lake Erie of the AHL on a conditioning assignment. … Colorado F Milan Hejduk played in his 800th game, the fourth player in franchise history to reach that milestone. … Avs D John-Michael Liles injured his shoulder in the first period and didn’t return. … Before the game, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said Toews is “doing much better every day” but the team is taking a cautious approach.