Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Martin Havlat scored the eventual game-winning goal with 2:53 gone in the second period and the Chicago Blackhawks held on to defeat the Colorado Avalanche, 2-1, at United Center.

Dustin Byfuglien added a goal, while James Wisniewski chipped in with a pair of assists for Chicago, which has won three straight and four of its last five games.

Patrick Lalime was stellar between the pipes for the Blackhawks, stopping 21- of-22 shots. Chicago, which ended a seven-game road trip with a 6-1 win at Nashville on February 14, had dropped five of its previous six home games coming into the contest.

Jaroslav Hlinka accounted for the lone Colorado goal. The Avalanche have lost three in a row and four of their last six. Jose Theodore made 25 saves in defeat.

With the Blackhawks holding a 2-0 lead after two periods of play, neither team could mount many quality scoring chances for most of the third. But Colorado was able to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 2:25 left. Hlinka, standing in the goal mouth, took a pass from Cody McLeod, who was standing behind the net and shoveled the puck under Lalime's pad.

Colorado then had a golden opportunity to tie the contest when it got a power play chance with 2:03 left after Byfuglien was whistled for a tripping penalty. The Avs pulled the goaltender setting up a 6-on-4 situation, but despite heavy offensive pressure, couldn't get the equalizer.

"All the hard work, getting through the injuries, now we have a lot of energy and things are good," Wisniewski said. "But we have a long way to go and we have to play every game with a sense of desperation."

Chicago got on the board 4:48 into the contest while on the power play. With John-Michael Liles in the box serving a hooking infraction, Wisniewski's one timer from the mid point off a feed from Patrick Kane was tipped in by Byfuglien, giving the Blackhawks the early lead

After Chicago rose to the forefront, killing off three consecutive minor penalties, Havlat put the home team up 2-0 2:53 into the second stanza. With the Blackhawks sustaining the offensive pressure, Wisniewski's shot from the left point was stopped by Theodore, but the rebound couldn't be handled and Havlat put home the rebound with a wrist shot from the low right circle.

The Blackhawks outshot the Avs 10-3 in the second frame and took a 2-0 lead into the intermission.