Rapid Recap: COL - 4 | SJS - 2

Rapid Recap: COL - 4 | SJS - 2
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the San Jose Sharks for third time this season with a final score of 4-2.
The contest started off slow with no goals from either club during the first period.
Alex Newhook put the Avalanche on the board early in the second with a goal assisted by defensemen Erik Johnson and Kurtis MacDermid.

The Sharks responded with a late second period goal to tie the game heading into the third.
Veteran Darren Helm scored his 6th goal of the season assisted by Valeri Nichushkin to give the Avs a short one goal lead. Sharks Brett Burns tied the game to keep San Jose in the contest.
Mikko Rantanen and Andre Burakovsky both tallied goals to finish the evening and give the Avs a two goal finish lead.
THE GOALS
1st Period
No goals.
2nd Period
1:54 COL (1-0) Erik Johnson stopped the Sharks attempt to get out of the zone and made a pass over to Kurtis MacDermid who passed to the high slot where Alex Newhook one-timed the puck top shelf through traffic.
12:09 SJS (1-1) After winning the face-off, Tomas Hertl pushed the puck up the boards, beating a few Avs players along the way to go on a two on one where he was tripped making a pass cross crease to Timo Meier who buried the puck passed a sprawled Pavel Francouz.
3rd Period
3:05 COL (2-1) Valeri Nichushkin caught a puck out of the air that was heading out of the zone for a quick turnover that he passed across the zone to Darren Helm who ripped a shot over the shoulder of Kahkonen.
6:29 SJS (2-2) Winning the offensive zone draw, the puck was sent to the point to Brent Burns who shot the puck through heavy traffic and five-hole on Francouz.
12:17 COL (3-2) Picking up a Cale Makar rebound, Nazem Kadri passed cross ice to Mikko Rantanen who buried the puck passed Kahkonen.
15:16 COL (3-3) Ripping around the net, Nazem Kadri passed up to the point top Erik Johnson who took a quick shot that was rebounded out in front and then buried by Andre Burakovsky.
Final:COL - 4 | SJS - 2
3 STARS
Selected by Colorado Hockey Coach of the Game Chris Birdsong Grand Junction River Hawks
POWER PLAYS
Colorado: 0/2
Opponent: 1/4
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Colorado: Pavel Francouz blocked 27 of 29 shots.
Opponent: Kaapo Kahkonen saved 46 of 29 shots.
NOTEBOOK
Colorado has now collected 95 goals in the final frame of regulation this season, the most in the league and tied for the third-most third-period tallies since the club moved to Denver. Devon Toews passes Tyson Jost on the franchise assist leaderboard and is now tied for 77th all time. Valeri Nichushkin recorded his third multi-goal game of the season, the first time in his career he has recorded multiple power-play tallies in a game.
ROSTER REPORT
Newly acquired forward Artturi Lehkonen played in his first contest with Colorado following his trade Tuesday night and will now completely join the squad.
INJURY UPDATE
Gabriel Landeskog remains out after knee surgery without a set return date. Samuel Girard continues to rehab a lower-body injury and is out on a week-to-week basis. Bowen Byram has been practicing with the team and is now taking contact but remains out on personal leave due to lingering head injury concerns.
UP NEXT
The Avalanche remain at home to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for a Saturday matinee game.
LINE COMBINATIONS
Based on the start of the game
Forwards
13 Valeri Nichushkin - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
62 Artturi Lehkonen - 91 Nazem Kadri 95 Andre Burakovsky
18 Alex Newhook 78 Nico Sturm - 37 J.T. Compher
11 Andrew Cogliano - 43 Darren Helm - 25 Logan O'Connor
Defensemen
7 Devon Toews - 8 Cale Makar
3 Jack Johnson - 42 Josh Manson
56 Kurtis MacDermid - Erik Johnson
Goaltenders

39 Pavel Francouz
35 Darcy Kuemper