CHICAGO (AP) — Scott Wedgewood made 22 saves for his first shutout and the Colorado Avalanche extended their winning streak to nine games with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

Cale Makar scored late in the second period for the NHL-leading Avalanche, whose run is the team's longest since winning nine straight March 4-24, 2024. Colorado improved to 16-1-5 and has points in 13 straight (11-0-2) since its lone regulation loss at Boston on Oct. 25.

Spencer Knight made 25 saves for the Blackhawks, losers of three straight following a six-game (5-0-1) point streak.

Wedgewood's ninth career shutout gave the Avalanche two in two nights. Colorado was coming of a 3-0 win at Nashville on Saturday behind Mackenzie Blackwood’s 35 saves.

Wedgewood, a backup during most of his career, leads the NHL with 13 wins and entered with a league-best 2.23 goals-against average.

Makar leads NHL defensemen with nine goals and with 29 points. Tristen Nielsen, skating in his fourth NHL game, set up Makar’s goal for his first point.

The Blackhawks dominated the scoreless first period, outshooting Colorado 11-2 and testing Wedgewood on several close-in chances. His sharpest save might have been on Ryan Green, who fired a one-timer when he was alone in the crease with 5:42 left.

The Avalanche pushed back in the second and outshot Chicago 19-1.

Makar finally connected with 1:39 left in the second on Colorado’s 19th shot of the game, firing in a rebound from the left circle. The goal was set up when Knight’s clearing pass was picked off by Nielsen in the slot, then Nielsen turned and took a first shot from the right circle.

Chicago pressured late in the third, but Wedgewood made several close-in saves, including a point-blank stop on Frank Nazar with 43 seconds left and Knight pulled for an extra attacker.

Up next

Avalanche: Host San Jose on Wednesday

Blackhawks: Host Minnesota on Wednesday.

Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is out indefinitely with a strained right hamstring

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets lost another starter, with forward Aaron Gordon sidelined indefinitely by a strained right hamstring.

The team announced Sunday that Gordon would be reevaluated in four to six weeks and that “updates will be provided when necessary.” He played only three minutes in a win over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Denver is already without Christian Braun after the shooting guard sprained his left ankle on Nov. 12 in Los Angeles in a game against the Clippers.

Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones started Saturday night with Gordon and Braun out during a 128-123 loss to Russell Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings. Before the game, Denver coach David Adelman said Gordon was sorting out his options.

“Yeah, he’s going through it,” Adelman said. “We’re trying to make sure we get the correct answer, to make sure we’re doing the right things.”

Gordon dealt with a strained left hamstring last season in Game 7 of a second-round playoff series against Oklahoma City. He had eight points and 11 rebounds in just over 24 minutes during a 125-93 loss that ended Denver's season.

This season, the high-flying Gordon is averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 rebounds.

The 30-year-old Gordon has been an integral piece for the Nuggets since being acquired in a trade with Orlando in March 2021. Gordon has formed quite a connection with Nikola Jokic, a perennial triple-double threat, and guard Jamal Murray. The trio helped Denver to its first NBA title in 2023.

Hobin scores 27 as Air Force knocks off IU Indianapolis 98-85

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) — Lucas Hobin scored 27 points as Air Force beat IU Indianapolis 98-85 on Sunday.

Hobin shot 8 of 13 from the field, including 5 for 10 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line for the Falcons (3-4). Caleb Walker added 21 points while finishing 10 of 12 from the floor while they also had six rebounds. Eli Robinson finished 7 of 13 from the field to finish with 17 points.

Kyler D'Augustino led the way for the Jaguars (2-6) with 20 points and four assists. IU Indianapolis also got 17 points from Kameron Tinsley. Matt Compas also had 16 points.

Air Force pulled off the victory after a 12-2 second-half run erased a one-point deficit and gave them the lead at 82-73 with 6:26 left in the half. Walker scored 13 second-half points.

Bloch scores 32 as Northern Colorado defeats CSU Fullerton 97-93

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Zack Bloch's 32 points led Northern Colorado over CSU Fullerton 97-93 at the Portland Invitational on Sunday.

Bloch shot 9 for 14 (7 for 12 from 3-point range) and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line for the Bears (5-1). Brock Wisne scored 15 points and added nine rebounds. Quinn Denker added 13 points.

The Titans (2-5) were led by Joshua Ward, who posted 31 points and two steals. Bryce Cofield added 27 points and seven rebounds for CSU Fullerton. Jefferson Monegro had 12 points.

Northern Colorado led 39-33 at halftime and never gave up the lead in the second half, although Fullerton scored 60 points after halftime.

Harakow scores 18 off the bench, Wyoming beats Norfolk State 75-67

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Adam Harakow scored 18 points off of the bench to help lead Wyoming past Norfolk State 75-67 on Sunday.

Harakow added five rebounds for the Cowboys (5-1). Leland Walker scored 15 points while shooting 3 for 6 (0 for 3 from 3-point range) and 9 of 9 from the free-throw line and added seven rebounds. Damarion Dennis shot 4 for 10 (3 for 8 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 15 points.

Anthony McComb III led the Spartans (3-4) in scoring, finishing with 19 points and six rebounds. Norfolk State also got 19 points and two steals from Elijah Jamison. Dian Wright-Forde also had 13 points and two steals.

Wyoming took the lead for good with 17:01 to go in the first half. The score was 39-23 at halftime, with Harakow racking up eight points. Wyoming used a 15-2 run in the second half to build a 24-point lead at 47-23 with 16:28 left in the half before finishing off the win.

Colorado State suspends quarterback and offensive lineman for spitting at Boise State players

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Colorado State quarterback Darius Curry and offensive lineman Liam Wortmann have been suspended for the Rams' final regular-season game for spitting on Boise State players during the second half of Saturday night's game in Boise, Idaho.

A video on social media showed Curry spitting at defensive lineman Jayden Virgin-Morgan, who had blocked Curry while a Boise State player returned what he thought was a live ball on a backward pass that hit the ground. The pass was ruled an incomplete. It wasn't immediately clear at whom or when Wortmann spit.

Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said after the game he didn’t see the incident because he was pulling Virgin-Morgan and a few other players back to the sideline, the Idaho Statesman reported.

“After having a chance to review the film following the game, I want to apologize to the Boise State football players, Coach Danielson, and everyone at Boise State University,” CSU interim coach Tyson Summers said in a statement.

CSU athletic director John Weber echoed Danielson's apology in the same statement.

Boise State won 49-21 in a game in which the teams combined for 14 penalties for 175 yards. Curry was making his first career start. Wortmann has started all 11 games at right guard.

CSU (2-9, 1-6 Mountain West) closes the regular season at home Friday against Air Force.

“Actions like spitting on an opposing player have no place in college athletics,” the MWC said in a statement. "The Conference commends CSU for acting swiftly and decisively to uphold the values of respect and sportsmanship that define our Conference.”