Avalanche Stun Sharks with 6-0 Shutout

Back in the win column.
The Colorado Avalanche shut out the San Jose Sharks 6-0 on Tuesday evening as the Avalanche as they continued their four-game homestand. Colorado is now 35-21-6 for their season record and rank third in the Central Division standings.

For the Avalanche, Cale Makar (1G, 3A), Valeri Nichushkin (1G, 3A), Nathan MacKinnon (1G, 1A), Mikko Rantanen (power play), Denis Malgin, and Artturi Lehkonen scored. In net, Alexandar Georgiev turned aside all 13 shots he faced. Devon Toews handed out two assists. Kurtis MacDermid returned to the lineup. The Avalanche utilized a lineup of 12 forwards and six defensemen.
For the Sharks, Kaapo Kahkonen made 19 saves on 24 shots through 22:45 minutes, James Reimer took over the net in the second period and made 18 saves on 19 shots through 37:15 minutes.

GAME SUMMARY:

Following a string of frustrating losses (0-2-1), the Avalanche came out with a methodical performance over the Sharks as they received balanced scoring - with six different goal scorers - benefitted from nine players recording at least a point, and were stingy defensively as they held San Jose to zero goals and 13 shots (including all single-digit shots per period).
The Avalanche executed a clinical first period as they titled the ice with a dominant 3-0 effort and 19-2 shot advantage. Colorado's scoring featured even-strength goals from Makar and MacKinnon and a late power-play strike from Rantanen.
At 4:08, Makar opened the scoring with a point shot that sailed under the crossbar with Toews and Nichushkin picking up the primary and secondary assists.

The Avalanche didn't relent and cashed in with another goal at 12:51 as MacKinnon skated into slot, chopped his stick over the puck and sniped a low wrist shot past Kahkonen's glove for his 26th goal of the season and second in as many games. Toews and Nichushkin recorded the assists as well.

Late in the opening frame, Colorado received its first power play as Sharks forward Tomas Hertl was sent to the box for holding at 15:39. On the Avalanche's power play, Rantanen was cross-checked into the boards, but there was no call. The centerman - who has racked up a team-leading 56 PIMs this season - maintained his composure and instead stayed in the play as Samuel Girard sprung him for a chance. Rantanen skated into the left faceoff circle and wired a sizzling wrist shot under Kahkonen's left arm at 17:01 to extend Colorado's lead 3-0.

The Avalanche picked up right where they left off to start the second period, this time with Nichushkin finding the back of the net at 1:22 and another strike just 1:23 later from Malgin as well as a late goal from Lehkonen. Colorado led shots 15-5.
Makar fired another point shot on net which took a fortuitous turn as Nichushkin tipped the puck past Kahkonen at 1:22.

Just 1:23 later, Malgin collected a pass from Matt Nieto, skated into the left faceoff circle and snapped a shot past the short side of Kahkonen at 2:45. After the goal, Sharks Head Coach David Quinn pulled Kahkonen from the net in place of Reimer.

Colorado then furthered its lead 6-0 late in the frame. Nichushkin and Makar each rounded out their respective four-point nights. Makar collected a pass from Nichushkin at the right faceoff circle and drove to the net. From the goal line, he sent a feed into the slot, where Lehkonen one-timed the puck past Reimer's stick at 18:21.
The Avalanche didn't score in the third period, but locked the game down despite killing off one penalty in that period to preserve the victory and shutout.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Makar tallied his 14th goal of the season. The goal marked the 62nd of his career which ties Rob Blake for the fifth most among defensemen in franchise history. Makar recorded a four-point outing (1G, 3A) which marked the first time since Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on June 6, 2022 that he did so.
• MacKinnon buried his 26th goal of the season and second goal in as many games.
• Rantanen recorded his team-leading 42nd goal of the season and his sixth strike on the power play.
• Nichushkin put away his 12th goal of the season.
• Malgin scored his seventh goal of the season and now has goals in back-to-back games.
• Lehkonen lit the lamp for the 18th time this season.
• Andrew Cogliano skated in his 1,200th career NHL game.
• MacDermid was paired alongside Jack Johnson as he returned to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 25.
• Georgiev made his 45th start of the season and improved his record to 27-13-5 as he earned his fourth shutout of the season.
• Colorado finished the game 1-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
• Brad Hunt, Pavel Francouz (lower body) and Darren Helm (lower body) were scratches for the Avalanche.

NEXT GAME:

The Avalanche continue their four-game homestand at Ball Arena as the host Los Angeles on Thursday night. The puck drops between the Avs and Kings at 7:00 p.m. MT.