CHICAGO _ If you're missing a kitchen sink, might want to check the United Center ice.
The Blackhawks threw everything they could at the Avalanche on Sunday night, from starting Corey Crawford in net in back-to-back games to loading up Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Alex DeBrincat on the same line to coming out with an urgency that hasn't always been there during a crushing three-game losing streak.
The result? The Hawks will live to see another day.
Duncan Keith raced from end to end to score in overtime, allowing the Hawks to beat the Avalanche 2-1 and stay within five points of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.
Keith shoved the puck into the net before crashing into Avalanche goalie Phillip Grubauer, who stopped 40 shots in the loss. The Hawks outshot the Avs 42-20.
The Hawks tried their best to win in regulation and deny the Avalanche a point in the standings, outshooting them 15-3 and scoring the third period's only goal.
With as much desperation as the Hawks showed, the Avalanche's playoff chances are far more realistic after assuming the lead for the final wild-card spot after beating the Hawks 4-2 in Denver on Saturday.
For the second straight day, the Hawks did themselves in by committing two quick penalties to give the Avalanche a long five-on-three power play during a tie game. And for the second straight game, the Avalanche converted.
Thirty-one seconds after Marcus Kruger was called for hooking, Toews was sent to the box for hooking Tyson Barrie.
The Hawks almost had the five-on-three killed off but with 16 seconds remaining, Alexander Kerfoot unleashed a slap shot that Crawford never saw to make it 1-0.
Crawford has started plenty of back-to-back games during his career, including earlier this season, but this was the first time he's done it since returning from a concussion last month.
The Avalanche didn't have many chances in the first period, but on their best one Crawford made a beautiful glove save after giving up a rebound to stop Northbrook native J.T. Compher from scoring his fourth goal in five games this season against the Hawks.
The Hawks offense has struggled mightily since scoring four goals in the first period against the Maple Leafs last week. They had only seven goals in their previous 10 periods entering Sunday's game, and stretched that to 12 periods after a scoreless first and second.
Artem Ansimov broke through for the Hawks early in the third, deflecting in a Brent Seabrook shot from the point to score his first power-play goal of the season with one second left on the man advantage to make it 1-1.
