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Quenneville, Blackhawks host struggling Avalanche

Nov 3, 2008 - 2:22 PM Colorado (5-6-0) at Chicago (5-3-3), 8:30 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- It appears the Colorado Avalanche could use a jolt of momentum similar to the one their former coach, Joel Quenneville, has given to his new team.

Quenneville faces his old team for the first time when the rolling Chicago Blackhawks look to continue their prowess at home against the Avalanche on Monday.

From 2005-08, Quenneville was 131-92-23 with the Avalanche and led them to the Western Conference semifinals twice, but was fired in May. After a short hiatus, he was hired by Chicago upon Denis Savard's dismissal on October 16.

The Blackhawks are coming off a 4-3 shootout victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, notching their second straight win and improving to 4-1-2 under their new coach. Patrick Sharp scored his team-leading seventh goal, Martin Havlat added his fourth and captain Jonathan Toews had the lone goal in the shootout.

They open a five-game homestand in this one and hope to improve their already stellar 4-0-2 mark at the United Center against a struggling team.

After winning five straight games, Colorado has dropped three in a row - including a 5-3 decision to the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.

Jordan Leopold, Milan Hejduk and defenseman John-Michael Liles tallied for the Avalanche, but goaltender Peter Budaj turned aside just 24 of the 29 shots he faced and was unable to contain the stellar Sharks offense.