Makar scores 2 goals as NHL-leading Avalanche beat Blackhawks 3-1

DENVER (AP) — Cale Makar scored two goals, Gavin Brindley had the go-ahead score early in the third period and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Saturday night.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 14 saves for Colorado, which killed off two penalties early in the third period to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Minnesota on Thursday night.

Colorado has an NHL-best 87 points and leads Dallas in the Western Conference by six points and Minnesota by seven. The Stars have played one more game than the Avalanche and the Wild have played two more.

Connor Bedard scored for Chicago, which has lost eight of nine and continues to struggle to score. The Blackhawks have just 12 goals in their eight losses.

Spencer Knight made 32 saves for Chicago, which had just nine shots through the first two periods.

Despite that, the game was tied entering the third and the Blackhawks went on the power play early in the period. They had a couple of good scoring chances, including a slap shot by Bedard that a sprawled-out Blackwood snared with his glove.

After killing the penalty, Brindley scooped up a rebound near the crease and beat a prone Knight with a wrister into the top of the net. Knight came off for an extra skater with 2:05 remaining and Makar scored his 17th of the season into the empty net at 18:33.

Chicago nearly scored 35 seconds after the opening faceoff before Bedard made it 1-0 with a power-play goal at 6:31 of the first.

The Blackhawks’ offense then went dormant, failing to put a shot on goal for nearly 20 minutes and not recording one in the second period for the first 8:39.

Knight kept it a 1-0 game until Makar's goal at 19:51 of the second period tied it.

Blackhawks: At Utah on Sunday.

Avalanche: At Los Angeles on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev, left, tries to block a pass by Colorado Avalanche center Jack Drury in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson, center, loses control of the puck as Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev, left, and center Jason Dickinson defend in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Andre Burakovsky, front, collects the puck as defenseman Louis Crevier, back right, and Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin pursue in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, right, looks to pass the puck as Chicago Blackhawks center Colton Dach defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, looks to pass the puck as Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Matt Grzelcyk covers in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Zhuri James stood with her back to the basket at the free-throw line and heaved an over-the-head shot that banked in after several previous attempts.

A little coaching and love from her superstar dad did the trick. LeBron James' 11-year-old daughter held a shooting session of her own at Chase Center on Saturday night after he concluded his own warmup routine ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers' 129-101 win against the Golden State Warriors.

“I don't know," she said of what the trick was to finally make the backward free throw, "I tried to make sure I was in front of the basket.”

She also dribbled on the baseline as he dribbled and James caught a glimpse and gave her a smile, then Zhuri came out on the court for some shots from different spots around the key.

Zhuri said she had fun with opportunity, not something she gets to do at road games very often. At Lakers home games, she does it “sometimes but not a lot.”

And before the 41-year-old James headed into the locker room to finish getting ready to face the Warriors, who were without injured rival Stephen Curry for a 10th straight game, Zhuri threw him an alley-oop and he slammed it home. They shared a sweet handshake and he told her “love you” before going inside.

Then he found his rhythm immediately come tipoff, making 7 of 10 shots and all four of his 3-point tries in the first half to go with four assists and four rebounds as the Lakers led 65-47 at the break. James finished with 22 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) watches as he makes a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) talks to fans during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives between Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming (20) and forward Oso Ighodaro during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)