The Colorado Avalanche need all the points they can get if they're to reach the Western Conference playoffs, and the Avs' 4-1 loss tonight to the San Jose Sharks is certainly the last thing Colorado needed. The Avs entered the night with 86 points (same as the Sharks), stuck in the middle of a five-team battle for the final two playoffs spots in the conference. The loss certainly hurts.
It took only :35 seconds for San Jose to push their lead to 4-1 once the third period began. Joe Pavelski scored his second goal of the night and 29th of the year on a power play set-up by teammates Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. Ryane Clowe added an empty-netter for San Jose to get to the final mark.
Shane O'Brien scored the lone goal for the Avs, coming in the second period.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Sharks blog Fear The Fin.
