DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche downplayed their dominance over the defending Stanley Cup champions this season. No sense giving the Chicago Blackhawks any sort of bulletin board material, just in case the two teams meet again in the post-season. Semyon Varlamov stopped 37 shots for his 100th NHL win, helping the Avalanche beat the Blackhawks 3-2 on Wednesday night to take four of five in the season series. "I dont want to talk about sending messages," Varlamov said. "We are focusing on what we are doing and on the playoffs." Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville wasnt reading too much into the Avalanches advantage, either. After all, the Avs only outscored Chicago 17-14. "There are going to be certain teams your record isnt going to be as good as you like," Quenneville said. "It looks like its a landslide against you, but every game has been different. Every game has been close." Thats because these two squads are almost mirror images. Theyre fast, young and have quality goaltending. Chicago has been that way for years. The Avalanche are just coming of age under first-year coach Patrick Roy. He doesnt mind the comparisons to Chicago, but thinks it might be a little premature because of "what theyve been able to accomplish. But we certainly look up to them." Brad Malone scored his first goal of the season, Matt Duchene extended his points to a career-high nine games with a goal and an assist, and Ryan OReilly scored what turned out to be the game-winner on a two-man advantage as the Avalanche jumped over the Blackhawks in the Central Division standings and into second place. "We are happy to be in second place, but thats not our goal," Duchene said. "We want to keep pushing and climb as high as we can." Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad scored for Chicago. Antti Raanta made 26 saves filling in for Corey Crawford. It was the first time Raanta has been in net since Jan. 28. Varlamov became the fourth Russian-born goaltender to record 100 wins, joining Evgeni Nabokov (347), Nikolai Khabibulin (333) and Ilya Bryzgalov (213). This also was Varlamovs 33rd win, second-most in the league behind Pittsburghs Marc-Andre Fleury (34). The Avalanche had a 5-on-3 opportunity for 1:30 midway through the third period following an interference call on Andrew Shaw and a delay of game by Marcus Kruger after he sent the puck into the seats. OReilly capitalized when he grabbed a rebound near the net and knocked it in for a 3-1 advantage. Chicago pulled Raanta with 2:32 remaining and scored seconds later when Saad knocked the puck past Varlamov. The Blackhawks momentarily put Raanta back on the ice, but summoned him to the bench with 1:37 left, leading to a wild finish. Saad sent a backhander just over the net with 25 seconds left and lined a shot into the chest of Varlamov with 4.9 seconds remaining. After that save, the crowd began chanting "Varly! Varly!" "Varly has been playing outstanding for us," Roy said. "He gives us a chance to win every night." Duchene staked Colorado to a 2-0 lead 19 seconds into the second period when he sent a wrist shot past Raanta. The Blackhawks sliced into the lead at 8:23 when Kane skated down the right side with defenceman Jan Hejda hanging all over him. Kane found just enough separation to lift backhanded shot over the shoulder of Varlamov for his 29th goal of the season. Colorado was without forwards P.A. Parenteau (right knee) and Paul Stastny (back). The team called up Paul Carey and Malone from the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League to add depth. Carey made his NHL debut and Malone instantly contributed as he scored late in the opening period. Cruising along the left boards, Malone sent a low liner at Raanta that went right through his legs. "It was a good shot. It was a surprising shot," Raanta said. "Thats how hockey treats you. You have to let those goals go and just keep going and try to make more saves." NOTES: Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews said of Colorados recent success against his team: "We just need to stop playing into their hands." ... Varlamov had an assist on Malones goal, his third of the season. ... Varlamov was 4-0 in five games (four starts) against Chicago, with a 1.59 goals-against average. ... Varlamov was given the puck to commemorate his 100th win. "It was important that I save the puck," he said. China Shoes Black Friday . The same for both the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday Free Shipping . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/.ca! Hi Kerry, The recent issues in the Boston-Pittsburgh game have highlighted a number of officiating, game control, and player sportsmanship aspects. Fake Shoes Black Friday .Y. -- Syracuse guard Trevor Cooney was mired in a shooting slump, and his woes coincided with a late-season swoon by the Orange. Discount Shoes Black Friday . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action.San Francisco, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The San Francisco Giants are delivering plenty of big hits in their bid to tie the World Series. Big blows? Havent seen any of those yet. The Giants rallied for a 7-4 lead over the Kansas City Royals in Game 4 on Saturday night, racking up 12 hits through six innings -- all but one of them a single. Pablo Sandoval had a two-run single and Brandon Belt added an RBI hit in a three-run sixth inning that broke a tie. An inning earlier,, Hunter Pence drove in a run with a single to highlight a two-run rally that knotted the score at 4-4 for the Giants.dddddddddddd. The Royals have won two games in a row to take a 2-1 lead in the series and sent Jason Vargas to the mound against San Franciscos Ryan Vogelsong, who lasted only 2 2/3 innings and gave up four early runs. Vargas pitched into the fifth and was charged with three runs. The Royals had nine hits through six innings, including eight singles. ' ' '