CHICAGO _ The Blackhawks scored early Tuesday.
The Avalanche scored more often.
A year and a day after becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot, the Hawks officially were eliminated from a postseason berth for the first time in 10 years thanks to a 5-1 loss, the Hawks' fourth in a row.
For the 27th time in their last 36 games, the Hawks struck first, this time on Brent Seabrook's first-period goal against the Avalanche, who entered the game on top of the wild-card standings in the Western Conference.
The Hawks fell to 12-12-3 in those games, though, after allowing a pair of power-play goals among the three that went past goalie Anton Forsberg during the second period.
Alexander Kerfoot, Mikko Rantanen and Tyson Barrie each had a goal for the Avalanche during the second.
The Hawks fell to 30-35-9, while the Avalanche moved to 40-25-8.
