Oct 18, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; San Jose Sharks goalie Vitek Vanecek (41) makes a save on a shot by Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (27) during the third period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images The Colorado Avalanche will look to make it back-to-back wins when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
Colorado snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime victory against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday to conclude a four-game homestand.
Nathan MacKinnon scored the game-winner with 41 seconds remaining in the extra period as the Avs avoided a fifth straight loss to open the season.
Ross Colton scored twice in the third to erase a 2-1 deficit, and Casey Mittelstadt also scored for Colorado. Mikko Rantanen had three assists, and Alexandar Georgiev made 17 saves in the victory.
“You’ve got to be happy with not only the effort and the determination that they played with, but to be able to sustain it as long as they did, and to just stick with it regardless of the score. It’s a great effort,” said Colorado coach Jared Bednar. “It is a relief. More importantly, I think, than relief, it’s looking past that. It’s the guys getting rewarded, finally, for playing the right way.”
Georgiev is 1-3-0 with a 4.99 goals-against average and an .811 save percentage this season. In eight career games against the Sharks, Georgiev is 7-0-0 with a .922 save percentage and a 1.63 GAA.
Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen, claimed off waivers by Colorado from Winnipeg on Oct. 11, practiced with the team on Saturday after having his visa issues sorted.
Rantanen has a team-leading 10 points (four goals and six assists) through five games, while Colton and Mittelstadt also have four goals each through five games.
Colorado opens a three-game road trip on Sunday which also takes them to Seattle and Utah.
The Avalanche took all three meetings with the Sharks last season, winning 2-1 in San Jose on Oct. 14, 6-2 in Colorado on Dec. 17 and completing the sweep at home on Dec. 31 with a 3-1 victory.
San Jose entertains Colorado looking for its first win of the season.
The Sharks dropped games in Dallas, Chicago, and Winnipeg last week. They host the Avalanche before heading out on the road for another three-game trip through Anaheim, Los Angeles and Vegas.
Tyler Toffoli, Luke Kunin and Fabian Zetterlund scored for the Sharks in Friday’s 8-3 loss in Winnipeg. MacKenzie Blackwood was pulled late in the second period after allowing five goals on 18 shots, and Vitek Vanecek made 15 saves in relief.
San Jose failed to pick up at least a point for the second consecutive night after falling 4-2 in Chicago on Thursday.
“(Winnipeg) did a lot of things well,” said Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky. “They were faster than us. They skated with the puck more through the neutral zone. They were probably more connected in their own end, and in the offensive zone they gave us some trouble with some motion.”
Blackwood is 0-1-2 with a 4.88 GAA and an .875 save percentage this season. In four games against Colorado, Blackwood is 0-2-1 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.84 GAA.
Vanecek is 3-1-0 in four career appearances against the Avalanche, posting a .884 save percentage and a 3.55 GAA. This season, Vanecek is 0-2-0 with a 3.15 GAA and an .892 save percentage.
Toffoli leads the Sharks in goals (4) and points (6) through five games. Mikael Granlund has five assists in five games this season.
–Field Level Media
