Blackhawks 7, Avalanche 2: Patrick Sharp celebrated his 32nd birthday with a hat trick among a career high-tying four points to spark host Chicago's romp.

Captain Jonathan Toews recorded two goals and two assists while Michal Handzus and Kris Versteeg both added one of each each as the Blackhawks improved to 4-0-1 in their last five games. Antti Raanta made 16 saves and defenseman Duncan Keith collected three assists.

Captain Gabriel Landeskog registered a goal and an assist while Paul Stastny also scored for Colorado, which dropped its third in a row (0-1-2). Jean-Sebastien Giguere was yanked after allowing seven goals on 24 shots over two periods in favor of Semyon Varlamov, who turned aside all 13 shots he faced in the third.

Sharp started his birthday celebration and triggered a three-goal spurt in the final 8:33 of the opening period when he beat Giguere to the far corner after he was sprung down the right side on a pass from Keith. Toews buried a rebound at 18:03 and Sharp rifled a slap shot past Giguere during a power play 75 seconds later.

Sharp completed his hat trick a mere 27 seconds into the middle period with a backhander in front and Toews, who scored only once in his previous 14 games, connected for his second goal just under eight minutes later to turn it into a laugher. Handzus and Versteeg added goals later in the period to push the lead to 7-1.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane assisted on his team's sixth goal to run his point streak to a career-high 13 games, during which he has amassed seven goals and 15 assists. ... Sharp, who has five goals in his last two games, became the first Chicago player ever to register a hat trick on his birthday. ... Keith's 33 assists rank first among NHL defensemen.