DENVER –- In a battle of two clubs desperate for a win, the Sharks got past the Avalanche on the strength of two goals from Brent Burns on Sunday afternoon, 4-3.
Burns’ second marker put he Sharks ahead for good, coming with just 1:39 left in regulation. Patrick Marleau found him open at the point, and Burns took a few strides before lifting the puck into the top corner with Tomas Hertl in front of the net to give San Jose a 3-2 edge it would not relinquish.
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Joe Pavelski scored an empty-net goal at 18:40, but Colorado came right back when Martin Jones couldn’t control a bouncing puck and it deflected in off of a charging Cody McLeod at 18:55.
Again, the Avalanche pulled Varlamov, but they couldn’t tie it up.
The Sharks and Avalanche both entered the game with losses in five of their previous six games.
[RELATED: Morning skate: Struggling teams meet as Sharks visit Avs]
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks won for the fourth-straight time over Colorado, making their only visit of the season to Pepsi Center. They have earned at least a point in 19 of their last 21 meetings (15-2-4).
Jarome Iginla opened the scoring on the power play when Paul Martin gave him a little too much room at the top of the circle. Iginla beat Jones just inside the far post at 5:17 of the first period.
San Jose responded quickly, though, as Marleau forced a turnover in the Sharks’ offensive zone and got it to Joel Ward, who stayed with his own rebound at the seven-minute mark for his team-leading seventh goal.
The Sharks took their first lead on their second shorthanded marker in as many days. Barclay Goodrow won a battle behind the net with Carl Soderberg and Tyson Barrie, and fed Burns for a one-timer that sailed past Semyon Varlamov at 12:03 of the second period.
This time is was the Avs answering right away, though, when Francois Beauchemin deposited the puck that Gabriel Landeskog played off Jones’ pad at 12:24 with Colorado still on a power play.
The Avalanche visit the Sharks twice later this season –- Dec. 28 and Jan. 26.
Special teams
The Avalanche entered just 1-for-24 on the power play in their last five games, but scored two goals with a man advantage on four tries.
The Sharks had just one power play, coming late in the second period, and did not convert.
In goal
After Alex Stalock got the call for Saturday’s loss in Dallas, Jones returned to the crease for the Sharks. He improved to 3-0-0 career against Colorado, stopping 23 of 26 shots.
Varlamov allowed three goals on 31 shots, and is now 5-4-3 in his career versus the Sharks.
Lineup
Bryan Lerg replaced Ben Smith as the fourth line center, after Smith played just four minutes on Saturday in Dallas.
Up next
The Sharks open up a four-game homestand on Tuesday with the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets. Later in the week, the Panthers and Ducks visit SAP Center on Thursday and Saturday, while the Islanders make their one and only appearance in San Jose on Tuesday, Nov. 10.