Blackhawks, Connor Bedard Disjointed in 5-0 Loss to Avalanche, Nathan MacKinnon

Connor Bedard danced around an Avalanche defender in the second period with a nifty move, cut to the slot and...

Collided with teammate MacKenzie Entwistle.

It was that kind of frustrating night for Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks, who couldn't get anything going in a 5-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

The only mark Bedard made on the scoresheet was a second-period penalty for interference. Ross Colton scored the Avs' second goal of the night on the power play.

Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and assist to reach 100 points for the second time in his career. MacKinnon powered to the mark when he burst to the net off right wing to score his 36th goal with 2:28 left in the third period.

Zach Parise had two goals and Devon Toews added one as Colorado scored three times in the second period to build a four-goal lead and cruise to the win. Rookie Justus Annunen stopped 25 shots in his ninth NHL game for his first shutout.

The last-place Blackhawks lost their fifth straight and fell to 1-10-3 in their last 14. Petr Mrazek made 28 saves.

"We haven't had a game like that in a long time," Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. "We've been in every game and tonight just by the third period (down 4-0), that's a long hill to climb against a team like this.

"You have to stew in that for 20 minutes in the game and then after the game. We haven't been in that situation for awhile." See following video.

Bedard, still the NHL's rookie scoring leader with 40 points, managed one shot on goal, had two blocked, missed with one and hit the post during a second-period power-play with another. Bedard returned to the bench and slammed a few things after clanking the iron.

MacKinnon credited any frustration on Chicago with Colorado's solid team defensive play, not by focusing on the NHL's top draft pick of 2023.

Bedard, however, was slashed hard by Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson early in the third.

"Our whole message was just be good defensively...especially with our rookie goaltender," said MacKinnon, who was the league's top draft pick back in 2013. "With Bedard... Yeah, he's an unreal player. It wasn't his night, but we were playing hockey too out there and it's not easy, especially at that age."

Cale Makar had two assists to become the first Avalanche defenseman with 50 or more in more than one season.

Colorado pulled ahead in its season series with Chicago, 2 games to 1.

The Avalanche blew past the Blackhawks 4-0 in Denver on Oct. 19 when Chicago barely touched the puck. The Blackhawks bounced back on Dec. 19 in Chicago, winning 3-2. See story in link:

Parise opened the scoring with 2:02 left in the first, moments after Bedard couldn't find the handle on a loose puck in front of the Avalanche goal.

Jack Johnson pried the puck away from Anthony Beauvillier on the board in the Avs' zone, then carried it down left wing. Johnson fed Parise, who cut down the slot and fired a shot over Mrazek's glove at for his second goal since joining Colorado on Feb 5.

Richardson said the Blackhawks were in it until that point.

"I thought we skated very well and played well," Richardson said. "It's disappointing at the end of the period to give that one up.

"I think we started chasing the game a little bit then and didn't have the same type of execution."

MacKinnon set up Colton for a power-play score at 6:56 of the second to up the Avs' lead to 2-0. Bedard was in the penalty box.

MacKinnon slipped around the net to the right side, then fed Colton in front for a tip. Mrazek made a pad save on the deflection, but Colton followed through on the rebound.

Parise made it 3-0 just 42 seconds later. Ryan Johansen plowed to the right edge of the crease, drew out Mrazek, then tried to tuck in the puck. Parise knocked it in.

Toews scored on a shot from the blue line with 2 seconds left in the second to increase the lead to 4-0.