This is a huge game for the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado entered the night in a three-way tie for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs, and one of the teams the Avs are tied with is their opponent tonight, the San Jose Sharks. After a scoreless first period, the goals started flying in the second, but it didn't up the way Colorado was hoping. The Sharks lead the Avalanche 3-1 with just one period remaining at HP Pavilion.
Just four minutes into the second period, Joe Pavelski scored his 28th goal of the season to get San Jose on the board. Teammate Andrew Desjardins would make it 2-0 Sharks halfway through the period when he scored his fourth goal of the season off passes from Tommy Wingels and Dan Boyle. The Avalanche would answer three minutes later when Shane O'Brien got Colorado on the board with his third goal of the season. San Jose's Torrey Mitchell would make it 3-1 Sharks with four minutes left in the period.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Sharks blog Fear The Fin. For NHL news, analysis and opinion go the SB Nation NHL hub page.
