The Colorado Avalanche had won back-to-back games prior to coming up short against the Blue Jackets Sunday. Each of those games were decided by one goal, and the same is true for the tonight's hosts, the Chicago Blackhawks, last three. I think the Avs will be able to keep this a close contest as well.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Slow Starters - The Blackhawks have allowed the first goal in each of their last five games. They've come back to win three of them, but covered the spread only once with the other two wins coming post regulation.

2. Corey Crawford - 30 year old Canadian has yielded 11 goals over his last three starts and 18 over his last six since returning from an injury that held him out for three weeks.

3. X-Factor - The Blackhawks may have won both meetings this season, but Sergei Varlamov and the Avs knows how to beat them as they were 4-0-0 with a 1.59 GAA against Chicago in 2013-14.

Selection: This is a play on the Colorado Avalanche +1.5 (8*)