DENVER, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Joe Pavelski broke up a deadlocked game with two second-period, power-play goals Thursday, sending San Jose past Colorado 4-2.
It was the first meeting of the Sharks and Avalanche since San Jose knocked Colorado out of the last season's playoffs in the opening round.
Pavelski scored 1:08 into the second to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead and added a power-play tally at the 8:44 mark. They were the first two goals of the season for Pavelski, who had 25 of them in each of the last two seasons.
Milan Hejduk brought Colorado within one 7:25 into the third, but Logan Couture scored into an empty net with 1:12 to play to clinch it.
The Sharks halted a three-game losing streak.
Antero Niittymaki, in his second start of the season, made 26 saves in the win. He suffered an overtime loss to Columbus in his other outing.
Craig Anderson stopped 31 shots for the Avalanche.
