The Colorado Avalanche had to wait for nearly the entire period to score, but they enter the first intermission with a 1-0 lead after Stefan Elliott's goal came with just 17 seconds left in the period. Elliott picked the puck up from his own end zone, skated through traffic and then snapped off a wristshot for his third goal of the season and the Avalanche lead. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman had not scored a goal or tallied a point since Nov. 30.
The Sharks continued to struggle offensively, never quite taking advantage of Colorado's turnovers. All 11 shots they put on net were blocked by Semyon Varlamov. The team, subsequently, was unable to convert on the only power play opportunity of the period, Cody McLeood's two-minute charging penalty.
That one goal really could the only point needed to win the game.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Sharks blog Fear The Fin.