Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche

1. The Blackhawks lost, 3-1, in Phoenix last night and have now dropped two straight on the road by a combined score of 5-1. Chicago is 3-0-0 in the second of back-to-back games this season.
2. Colorado beat the Coyotes, 4-1, on Wednesday night and snapped its 2-game losing streak in the process. Entering play tonight, the Avs have the best record in the West at 11-3-2.
3. Including a 4-3 shootout win on October 10, Chicago has beaten Colorado six of the last nine times the two teams have met.
4. Kris Versteeg has lit the lamp in each of his last two skates after scoring just twice in his first 12 games of 2009-10. Versteeg has three assists in five career games vs. the Avs.
5. Milan Hejduk scored twice vs. the Coyotes on Wednesday night -- his first multi-goal game since February 24 last season. Hejduk has lit the lamp in two straight and three of his last five skates vs. Chicago overall.
6. Colorado has 18 different players that have scored at least one goal this season -- tied for second-most in hockey.