5 takeaways from the Chicago Blackhawks’ 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, including a gutsy goalie interference challenge

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Things have really changed for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche since the season opener.

A 5-2 win on Oct. 13 by the defending Stanley Cup champion Avs wasn’t surprising against the reubuiling Hawks. But Thursday night’s 3-2 win marked a turn of fortunes.

The Hawks won their third straight — just the second time they’ve such a streak this season — and it represented the seventh loss for the Avalanche in their last eight games.

“It felt good to get the win for us, especially after two wins,” said goalie Petr Mrázek, who had 31 saves in his first win since Dec. 3 at the New York Rangers. “That’s nice that we can keep rolling so we can show consistency … and we learn how to win games.”

Sam Lafferty scored the opening goal, and Andreas Athanasiuo and Taylor Raddysh each added markers.

The “complete game” mantra can sound cliché, but the Hawks have to play that way to keep up with the league’s elite teams. Thursday was further evidence.

“I thought we were coming,” coach Luke Richardson said. In past games, “we had 40, 45 minutes, 50 minutes where we — not ran out of gas — but a team with maybe a little more depth flexed their muscles on us. We were right there and I think just to see some results for the guys, and now that they see it, I think they’re pushing harder.”

The Hawks are in the middle of the season — “dog days” as Richardson called it — especially when you’re at the bottom of the standings.

“There’s a lot of games and if you get on that cycle downward, it becomes that, ‘grr,’” he said. “It’s hard to get it going. But when you’re winning, it feels effortless and these guys feel like coming to the rink, feel like working for each other and it’s fun to watch.”

Here are five takeaways from the win.

Avalanche forward Alex Newhook appeared to tie the game 3-3 late in the third period, but the Hawks believed Mikko Rantanen interfered with Mrázek and challenged the goal.

“When I first saw it, right away I saw Rantanen’s stick pushing Petr’s pad,” Richardson said. “I wasn’t sure where the puck was at that point, and the puck went in after right where his pad was.

“For me, the way the rule reads, that’s goalie interference. At first I heard a “No” relayed from our video room (and goalie coach Jimmy Waite), then right away they said, ‘No, they like the call.’

“I might have had to override them because I thought it was the right call and they did a great job. They double checked with the goalie coach and it all came back clear.”

Mrázek agreed: “When I saw the replay, I wasn’t surprised that we challenged that because I tried to play the puck with my glove there and he kind of lay on me, so I was hoping there was going to be an angle where they can see that.”

Officials reviewed the video and waived off the goal.

According to the NHL Situation Room, “Video review determined Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen impaired Petr Mrázek’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to Alex Newhook’s goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1 which states, in part, ‘Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.’”

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said goaltender interference is “always a tweener.”

“Rantanen’s in front of the net, and I think (Hawks defenseman Connor Murphy) kind of takes him down, and there’s no question that his stick ends up getting in the path,” Bednar said.

“I don’t know that he goes into the goalie without (Murphy) taking him down. So I think it’s a really close call. I can see why they called it back. I can also see how you’d let it go. But it’s a close one, Toronto makes a call, but I’ve moved past it.”

If the Hawks had lost the challenge, they would’ve found themselves on the penalty kill for delay of game with 4 minutes, 51 seconds left in the game — and another Avs goal away from a loss.

Was it a big gamble?

“No, not at all,” Richardson said.

Mrázek appreciated Richardson taking the risk.

“To be honest, four minutes, five minutes left in the game, those are tough decisions, but great job by the video coaches and coaches on the ice.”

Before the game, the Blackhawks placed Kane (lower body) on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 3. The Hawks have been without him since the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“The guys have been snapping it around but you can’t replace Patrick Kane by one person, so you have to do it by committee,” Richardson said. “Everybody’s been dialed in, and that’s good perseverance for the whole team to step up and make sure we get those wins and do that little bit extra, get over the hump.”

Kane leads the team with 20 assists in 37 games, to go along with his seven goals.

Richardson said before the game, “It’s nice to know Patrick’s getting close and coming back with the team playing well. It’s just going to be another shot or boost in the arm for us.”

Against the Avalanche, the Hawks spread the wealth.

Eight Hawks — seven skaters and goalie Mrázek — recorded a point.

“I think subconsciously the guys probably picked it up as a committee, but I think we’ve also had time off this week and we’ve had time to work on our game,” Richardson said. “We’re kind of well-connected going into this break and the last few days (in practice) just working on speed and support. I thought that showed in (Sam) Lafferty’s first goal.”

Mrázek handed off the puck behind the net to Isaak Phillips, who made a savvy stretch pass to Athanasiou, who then flipped a sharp-angle shot over Avs goalie Pavel Francouz.

The helper gave Mrázek his fourth career assist, tying him with fellow Hawks goalie Alex Stalock.

“He has four too, really? It seems like he should have 20 (or) 30 and a few goals too,” Mrázek said. “But those stats don’t matter for us, the most important thing is we got 2 points tonight.”

Mitchell had a stretch from mid-December to early January where he had three assists in four games — including a savvy setup for Kane — but he hasn’t done much to distinguish himself since.

According to PuckIQ, in 11 games this season, Mitchell has had a dangerous Fenwick for/against ratio (DFF%) of 34% against all levels of competition, which measures the “danger” value of shots he’s taken versus shots he has allowed by opponents.

Last season he had a DFF percentage of 43.7%.

Richardson said, “Even though we won our last two games, there were a couple of incidents (where) he starts to scramble a little bit defensively,” but added Mitchell has played well otherwise.

“He moves the puck well and gives us a shot presence out there, but we have two young guys who need time to play,” Richardson said. “I thought at times Phillips played really well, especially with (Connor) Murphy, and moving his feet and playing aggressive and getting more of a presence out there defensively.”

Phillips last played Jan. 3 and could get ice time in Rockford rather than languishing on the bench in Chicago.

You obviously don’t want to be careless enough to commit a penalty right after killing one, and you absolutely don’t want to have to kill two.

But that’s the situation the Hawks found themselves in after Athanasiou was tagged with a double minor for hooking.

But for the Hawks, it was a masterful four minutes: The Hawks won three faceoffs, generated shorthanded rushes and had a shot on goal. The Avs had one shot toward the tail end of the man advantage.

During a third period PK, the Hawks thwarted most of the Avs’ entries with clears. Colorado had no shots on goal — the Hawks had two shorthanded shots.

“Huge part of the game,” Mrázek said. “Ten minutes shorthanded, so big thanks to the guys out there.”

The Avalanche came into the game with the 13th-ranked power play; the Hawks had the 28th-ranked penalty kill.

Richardson said assistant coach Kevin Dean has been working with his unit to create more up-ice pressure — not that that hasn’t been the goal all season.

“At times, with different guys in and out of the lineup, I don’t think guys were really comfortable with it,” Richardson said. “Just like everything else, repetition and I thought tonight it really showed.”