SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Joe Pavelski tied the game on a goal with 19.6 seconds left Monday and San Jose went on to post a wild 5-4 win over Colorado in a shootout.
The Sharks held a 3-2 lead with 1:09 remaining in the third period but the Avalanche got goals from Erik Johnson and John Mitchell just 12 seconds apart to grab the lead.
San Jose pulled its goalie for a sixth attacker and notched the equalizer when Joe Thornton got control of the puck behind the net and threaded the puck onto the stick of Pavelski, who fired a shot into the far corner of the net.
After a scoreless overtime, Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau scored in the tiebreaker, sending the Sharks into the holiday break with a third win in four games.
Brett Burns had a goal and two assists, Matt Irwin provided a goal and an assist and Thorton set up three goals for San Jose.
Antti Niemi stopped 29-of-33 shots.
Johnson finished with a goal and an assist while Gabriel Landeskog, Nate McKinnon and Jamie McGinn also scored for the Avalanche.
Semyon Varlamov made 41 saves.