SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Patrick Marleau slipped the puck past Semyon Varlamov in the fourth round of a shootout Tuesday to give San Jose a 3-2 victory over visiting Colorado.
Marleau beat Varlamov between the pads and then waited for Sam Jose goaltender Antti Niemi to turn aside John Mitchell's backhander and give the struggling Sharks a needed win.
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San Jose came into the contest having lost nine of its last 10 games.
Logan Couture and T.J. Galiardi scored in regulation for the Sharks. Niemi had 25 saves.
Varlamov notched 39 saves for the Avalanche, who lost their third game in a row.
Chuck Kobasew and Mark Olver scored in regulation for Colorado. Olver's backhand goal at 16:44 of the third period knotted the score 2-2.
