Cup Champ Chicago Loses Opener To Colorado, Paul Stastny Scores In OT

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Paul Stastny scored the game-winning goal 3:40 into overtime to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in the season-opener for both teams at Pepsi Center.

Stastny also scored in regulation along with Chris Stewart and Matt Duchene for the Avalanche, who qualified as the No. 8 seed in the West in last season's playoffs but were ousted by the San Jose Sharks in six games in the first round.

Craig Anderson allowed three goals on 38 shots in the win.

Brian Bickell, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp scored for the Blackhawks, who began the defense of their Stanley Cup championship. In June, the Blackhawks won the Cup for the first time since 1961 when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. Patrick Kane scored the series-clinching goal in overtime, while the other Chicago offensive star, Jonathan Toews, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the postseason.

Salary cap issues forced Chicago to alter a decent portion of its roster in the offseason. Gone from the group that won the title are Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Andrew Ladd, Kris Versteeg and John Madden.

Goaltender Antti Niemi, who won all 16 of Chicago's playoff game last spring, was not brought back after he was awarded $2.75 million in arbitration. That paved the way for Chicago to ink Marty Turco to a one-year deal.

Turco, who played for a decade with the Dallas Stars, finished with 37 saves.