The San Jose Sharks needed just 30 seconds to open the scoring against the Colorado Avalanche when Logan Couture beat Semyon Varlamov to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
The Avalanche tied the game by the end of the first period on a slap shot by Chuck Kobasew at 12:13.
T.J. Galiardi’s backhander put the Sharks ahead 2-1, 2:55 into the second period on assists from James Sheppard and Adam Burrish.
With 3:16 left in the 3rd period, the Sharks couldn’t clear a puck out of their zone and the Avs’ Chuck Kobasew, with assists from Mark Olver and Cody McLeod, took advantage by slipping a puck past Antti Niemi to tie the game at two goals apiece.
Then, with 1:02 left in the game, the Sharks had a glimmer of late-game lightning in a bottle when former Shark, Jamie McGinn, was called for high sticking to give the Sharks a golden opportunity to break the 2-2 deadlock but came up empty in regulation time after a barrage of shots on Avs' goalie Semyon Varlamov.
The first 5-minute over time period went scoreless with the only three shots-on-goal coming from the Sharks.
In the shootout: Sharks chose to shoot first.
Michal Handzus scored, Milan Hejduk - save by Niemi
Joe Pavelski - save by Varmarlov, Gabe Landeskog - missed backhand
Dan Boyle - save by Varmarlov, P.A. Parenteau squeeked a five-hole goal to extend the shootout.
Patrick Marleau scored, John Mitchell - save by Niemi for the 3-2 win.
Once again, the Sharks, despite scoring an early goal, could only manage to 3 goals to prolong their month-long streak of not scoring more than three goals in a game since January 27th.
The Sharks only had two minor penalties in the game compared to five for the Avalanche.
Semyon Varlamov stopped 38 of 40 shots on goal in the loss and Antti Niemi 24 of 26 in regulation and the first over time session.
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