Avalanche Vs. Sharks: Video Highlights

In case you missed last night's stunning comeback victory over the San Jose Sharks, you owe it to yourself to spend the next 2:39 watching the NHL's video highlights. Best victory of the season so far? It's certainly the biggest, as Colorado moves to within two points of first place in the Northwest Division, despite widespread injuries.

Sharks @ Avalanche 11/17/10 (via NHLVideo)

Avalanche Vs. Sharks: Kevin Porter Scores Winning Goal In OT, Colorado Steals Win

After being completely dominated by the San Jose Sharks for 50 minutes, Colorado decided to finally start playing their style of hockey with 11 minutes left in the game. The Avalanche had managed only 12 shots on goal through the first two periods and found themselves on the wrong side of a 3-1 score.

But then, John-Michael Liles continued his stellar play this season, carrying the puck through the neutral zone and finding a streaking Chris Stewart for a goal to pull Colorado within one score. Liles added two assists to his season total, and now has 18 points in 18 games, leading all NHL defensemen, Minutes later, Paul Stastny fired an absolute rocket (on another Liles pass) from the left faceoff circle, beating San Jose goalie Antero Niittymaki up top to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Just two minutes into overtime, forward Kevin Porter found himself on a breakaway in the San Jose zone and shot the puck as he fell to the ice, giving the Avalanche an improbable victory over San Jose. Porter now has six points in his last six games, including four goals.

Peter Budaj was a main factor in this game with his best game of the season. With the sheer number of shots he faced, his consistent and occasionally spectacular play kept Colorado within striking distance.

Avalanche Vs. Sharks: Stewart and Stastny Both Score, Send Game Into OT Tied 3-3

Just when things looked bleak for Colorado, the top line for the Avalanche came through. Beautiful goals by Paul Stastny and Chris Stewart, along with spectacular play in net by Peter Budaj, gives the Avalanche at least one point in the very tight Western Conference standings.

Despite being outshot 43-20 in regulation, the Avalanche find themselves tied with the Sharks. No matter the outcome in overtime, Colorado should consider themselves lucky to earn a point on a night where they were severely outplayed for the vast majority of the game.

Chris Stewart Scores His 50th Career Goal, Avalanche Trail 3-2

An awful game by Colorado has had a few positive moments. Peter Budaj’s stellar play, Kevin Shattenkirk’s first career goal, and now Chris Stewart’s 50th career goal.

John-Michael Liles carried the puck through the neutral zone and then made a crisp pass to Chris Stewart, who promptly sped past his defender and fired a wrist shot that beat San Jose goalie Antero Niittymaki down low.

Despite being outshot 39-16 in this game, Colorado is only down by a single goal with nine minutes to play.

Avalanche Vs. Sharks: Sharks Dominate Second Period, Lead Avalanche 3-1

Sloppy play in the defensive zone and the lack of a consistent offensive attack have forced Colorado into a sizable 3-1 deficit against a very talented San Jose team.

Statistically, San Jose is dominating this game. They have outshot Colorado by a 28-12 margin. The Sharks are applying constant pressure in the Avalanche zone and forcing Colorado players to chase the puck instead of controlling it down the ice. It’s become a dominating performance for the road team.

A pair of rookies will remember this game for the rest of their lives, as Colorado’s Kevin Shattenkirk and San Jose’s Mike Moore both scored their first career goals.

Colorado defenseman Ryan Wilson leads all Avalanche skaters with over 14 minutes of ice time, and is minus 3 to show for his efforts. For the second straight game, the defensive pairing of Wilson and Adam Foote has proven ineffective — not surprising since both players have just returned from significant injuries.

Sharks Score Twice, Incuding Rookie Mike Moore's First Career Goal

After getting some momentum at the end of the first period on Kevin Shattenkirk’s first career goal, the Sharks immediately took over control of the game at the start of the second period. Defenseman Dan Boyle flipped a shot past Peter Budaj, giving him a goal and an assist in the game so far. Joe Thornton and Ryan Clowe assisted on the goal.

A Shattenkirk delay of game penalty placed the Sharks on the power play for the fifth time in the game. This time, Colorado was unable to kill off the penalty. With ten seconds left in the penalty, San Jose rookie Mike Moore fired a shot from the point that deflected off a skate and past Budaj for his first ever career goal. San Jose is now 1 for 5 on the power play.

Avalanche Vs. Sharks: First Period Recap And Statistics

At the end of the first period, Colorado and San Jose are deadlocked at one goal apiece. After a disastrous first minute, where San Jose forward Logan Couture was able to thread a rebound past goalie Peter Budaj, the pace kept at a frenetic pace.

Four penalties on the Avalanche, including a double minor for high sticking, gave the Sharks the man advantage for over seven minutes of the first period. The Sharks are normally deadly on the power play, but came up empty due to some brilliant defensive play.

The turning point in the period came at 16:49, when Dan Boyle was called for hooking while the Sharks were on the power play. Colorado used their minute of advantage to take control of the period for the first time. Milan Hejduk circled around the crease, faked a shot, and made a cross ice pass to rookie defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. Shattenkirk converted the pass into a top shelf shot from the left faceoff circle and past Sharks goalie Antero Niittymaki for his first career goal.

Due to the last few minutes, the Avalanche were able to close the shot gap, and now only trail San Jose 13-9 in that category, after being down by a substantial margin for the majority of the period.

Avalanche Fall Behind Early On Couture Goal, Kill Off Multiple Penalties

Barely a minute into the first period, and the San Jose Sharks already have jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Logan Couture goal. Joe Pavelski and Ryan Clowe were credited with assists on the goal.

At 8:00 in the period, Colorado forward Brandon Yip was called for a high stick that resulted in a double minor. For four minutes, the Avalanche faced a barrage of shots but were successful in killing off the long penalty with no further damage.

It’s still a one goal game for now, but the Sharks have controlled the tempo in this game so far. If the Avalanche continue to give the Sharks a man advantage, then they will face an uphill climb in this game.

Avalanche Vs. Sharks: Offense Required

Fresh from their 6-3 beatdown of the St. Louis Blues on Monday night, Colorado finds yet another quality team is coming to Pepsi Center. This time, it's their opponent from last year's memorable --and physical -- first round playoff matchup.

San Jose comes to Denver on a hot streak, having won four of their past five. Their top forwards are producing, with Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton, and Patrick Marleau all contributing at least six goals and 10 assists apiece. Antero Nittymaki has been enjoying a renaissance season (.927 SV%, 1.91 GAA) in front of the always-solid Sharks defensive core.

Statistically speaking, the Sharks' special teams have carried them this season. Their penalty kill is average, but their power play has been something to behold. Not only do they draw a large number of penalties, but they convert those chances at a blistering 25% rate. Across the league, teams score 24.5% of their goals with a man advantage. The Sharks? 39.6% of their goals have come on the power play, an extraordinary number.

Colorado will need all the defensive help they can get while facing the Sharks' top forwards. Thankfully, they are finally getting healthy. Jonas Holos will be a healthy scratch tonight, as per Adrian Dater, but there are plenty of quick defensemen left on the roster. If John-Michael Liles continues his torrid start to the season, at both ends of the ice, then the Avalanche and their elite (and balanced) offense will match up well.

Colorado lost their previous matchup against San Jose this season, 4-2, on the strength of two Joe Pavelski power play goals.

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The puck drops at 7pm MDT.