Avalanche 2 - 3 Sharks
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Marleau, Sharks beat Avalanche in SO

Feb 27, 2013 - 7:58 AM San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Patrick Marleau scored the winner in the fourth round of the shootout as the San Jose Sharks posted a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

In the fourth round, Marleau snuck a shot between the pads of Semyon Varlamov. Antti Niemi then preserved the win by making a left pad save on John Mitchell's backhand attempt.

T.J. Galiardi and Logan Couture each had a goal for the Sharks, who came into the game having dropped nine of their last 10 games. Niemi hade 25 stops in the win.

"Of course you always want to win in regulation, but the important thing is that we got the two points," said Marleau. "This is a big win for us and hopefully we can build on this."

Chuck Kobasew and Mark Olver each scored for the Avalanche, who went 0-1-2 on a West Coast trip. Varlamov stopped 39 shots in the loss.

San Jose got on the board just 25 seconds into the game as Joe Thornton sent a pass from the deep right boards to the slot where a charging Couture one-timed it in.

Colorado tied the game at the 12:13 mark of the opening period when Jan Hejda blasted a shot on net from the left point and Kobasew shoveled in the rebound from the right side.

Just under three minutes into the second period, the Sharks made it a 2-1 game as good work from James Sheppard behind the net saw him come out the right side and backhand a pass on net that Galiardi was able to bang in while fighting off a defender.

The Avs kept working at the deficit in the third period and it paid off with 3:16 to play in regulation as Olver's backhander from the left side just crossed the line. It was initially waived off, but the replay showed otherwise.

In the overtime, Varlamov helped push it to a shootout with a beautiful glove save on Thornton as a power play that had carried over from regulation expired.

"I like the fact we show some resiliency after falling behind twice," Colorado coach Joe Sacco said. "We were able to tie the game somewhat late and that was a big point for us. It's disappointing we weren't able to scratch out that second point. I thought our goalie was outstanding. He gave us a chance to hang around there until the end."

Game Notes

Colorado hosts Calgary on Thursday ... San Jose hosts Detroit on Thursday ... The Sharks have won four straight and eight of 10 over the Avalanche ... Colorado was 0-for-2 on the power play while San Jose went 0-for-5.






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