Colorado Avalanche vs. San Jose Sharks: Game Recap
In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night, the Colorado Avalanche showcased their dominance over the San Jose Sharks with a final score of 4-2, securing a vital victory just before the Olympic break. The Avalanche, who currently lead the NHL standings, saw Josh Manson net the decisive goal in the third period, propelling the team ahead after a competitive game.
Key Performers
Artturi Lehkonen played a pivotal role for Colorado, contributing two goals to the scoreboard, while Nathan MacKinnon notched two assists, marking a significant milestone in his career. With these assists, MacKinnon reached 700 in his NHL tenure, joining the legendary Joe Sakic as the only players in the franchise’s history to achieve this feat. Sakic, now the team president, concluded his illustrious playing career with a remarkable 1,016 assists.
The Avalanche also benefited from a solid performance by Mackenzie Blackwood, who recorded 23 saves, and Valeri Nichushkin, who provided three assists throughout the game.
Game Highlights
Despite the loss, San Jose managed to tie the game early in the third period with goals from Timothy Liljegren and Philippe Kurashev, the latter scoring at 3:34 to level things after Liljegren opened the scoring just 43 seconds into the period.
Manson’s pivotal goal came at 12:44 in the third, striking a one-timer past a screened Yaroslav Askarov, who later pulled for an extra attacker. Brock Nelson then sealed the game with an empty-net goal, marking his 29th of the season at 18:43.
Looking Ahead
After a strong start to the season, the Avalanche have faced challenges recently, going 5-7-2 since early January, which has reduced their substantial lead over the Minnesota Wild in the Central Division from 11 points to just five. As they sit at 83 points and have played three fewer games than the Wild, the Avalanche are poised to return to action on February 26 against Minnesota.
For the Sharks, who are on a disappointing four-game losing streak, the team is set to host the Calgary Flames in their next matchup, also scheduled for February 26.
