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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. Harold Landry Jersey . Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their first home game since Gwynn died of cancer Monday. Dion Lewis Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations. http://www.titansstoreonline.com/Black-51-Will-Compton-Womens-Jersey/ . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. Blaine Gabbert Titans Jersey . Dwyane Wade took over in the fourth quarter. Bennie Logan Jersey . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best.Tucson, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - The third-ranked Arizona Wildcats begin a five-game homestand on Tuesday when they bring in the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs for a non-conference bout at the McKale Center. The Bulldogs snapped a two-game slide in the 2014 Paradise Jam this past Saturday, as they ran over visiting Brevard College, 78-63. The win allowed them to even their overall record (3-3), while earning them a victory in their home debut. They will be at home for their next three games after this quick trip. Six opponents have stood in Arizonas way and all six have been vanquished. The Wildcats took part in the Maui Invitational last week and posted wins over Missouri (72-53), Kansas State (72-68) and San Diego State (61-59). The next leg of the current homestand will be a tough one, as ninth-ranked Gonzaga comes to town on Saturday. This game marks the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Wildcats on the hardwood. Against Brevard College, Gardner-Webb flexed its Division I muscles, shooting an impressive 54.4 percent from the floor, including a 7-of-17 effort from 3- point range. There were still weak spots in the 15-point win, however, The Bulldogs were out-rebounded, 37-34) and they made only 9-of-20 attempts from the free-throw line. Jerome Hill notched 32 points to go along with eight rebounds. Hill (18.5 ppg, 8 rpg) is an excellent scorer and rebounder for the Bulldogs. In fact, he leads the team in both categories, while connecting on 48.8 percent of his shots from the floor. He has sccored in double figures in all six games.dddddddddddd Tyrell Nelson (12.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg) provides Hill with a solid companion on the front lines, while Jarvis Davis (10.7 ppg, 6 rpg) adds strong efforts in scoring and rebounding. Tyler Strange (9.5 ppg, 7.2 apg) has had the opportunity to be a better scorer, but he is shooting just 28.8 percent from the floor. That hasnt hurt his impressive assist totals, however. T.J. McConnell drilled a 3-pointer with 7:33 to play to give Arizona a 50-48 lead against San Diego State, and the Wildcats managed to hold on down the stretch to claim the Maui Invitational title. The game was quite the defensive struggle, with the Wildcats only making 36.5 percent of their shots from the floor, while the Aztecs turned in a 43.8 percent effort. Stanley Johnson scored 18 points and came up a rebound shy of a double-double for the Wildcats, but he missed more shots than he made (4-of-14). Putting the clamps down on defense is Arizonas specialty. The Wildcats are allowing only 59.5 points per game on 40.5 percent shooting, despite playing a reasonably challenging early gambit. Johnson (13.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg) hasnt lit the world on fire in his first six games as a collegian, but he is second on the team in scoring and rebounding. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (13.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg) leads in both areas, despite coming off the bench in all six games. Brandon Ashley (12.7 ppg) is another fine scorer, while McConnell (8.2 ppg, 6.2 apg, 2.8 spg) is a terrific point guard. ' ' '