Avalanche outlast Blackhawks in shootout

DENVER (Reuters) - Colorado outlasted the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 after another marathon shootout on Friday, improving to 6-0 at home to start the season.

It took eight shootout rounds to decide the outcome of Friday's game -- Avalanche winger Chris Stewart converted before Chicago's Dustin Byfuglien missed to end the game.

Colorado (12-3-2) were on the receiving end of a 4-3 loss to Chicago (8-5-2) on October 10 in a game that required nine shootout rounds.

Colorado goaltender Craig Anderson finished with 29 saves and Ryan O'Reilly netted two goals to help pull the NHL-leading Avalanche out of an early 2-0 deficit.

"We kept battling out there," O'Reilly told reporters.

"It seems like we like to play from being down by two. It worked out well."

Chicago got off to a fast start with goals from Byfuglien and Duncan Keith in the first 10 minutes. O'Reilly got his team on the board with a backhand score eight minutes later.

David Jones tied the game at 7:43 into the second and O'Reilly added his second to give Colorado the lead a minute later.

Blackhawks winger Andrew Ladd forced overtime with a wrister at 16:40 in the second. There was no further scoring in the third period or overtime.