Niemi has 31 saves, Marleau, Pavelski score in shootout as Sharks beat Avalanche, 3-2.

DENVER - Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski scored in the shootout to help the San Jose Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Antti Niemi stopped 31 shots and both Avalanche players in the shootout to give the Sharks the win.

Semyon Varlamov had a season-high 49 saves and Alex Tanguay and Gabriel Landeskog scored in regulation for the Avalanche, who have one win in four home games this season.

Marleau and Pavelski came through as the first two shooters to put the pressure on Colorado in the shootout. Niemi stopped Tanguay and then made a glove save on Matt Duchene to end the game.