Avalanche at Sharks
THE STORY: The San Jose Sharks hope to find their offense when they kick off a six-game homestand against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. It would also behoove them to decide the game in regulation or in overtime. The Avalanche snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Sharks on Tuesday. Colorado is 16-1 in its last 17 shootouts, including 5-0 this season. The Sharks have lost three straight (0-1-2) – all on the road and by one goal – but it certainly hasn’t been a result of their play on defense. “We left on the road four days ago, played three games and gave up only seven goals," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. “Those are pretty good defensive numbers. You should come home with more than two points." The Avalanche haven’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut - they have collected six goals in their last four games.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), CS California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (14-16-1): Colorado has won only two of the last nine meetings and has lost four straight at San Jose. The Avalanche were bolstered Tuesday by the return of center Paul Stastny, who missed three games with a torso injury. Rookie defenseman Stefan Elliott scored following a coast-to-coast rush and continues to impress at both ends of the ice. After starting 5-0-0 on the road, the Avalanche are 1-7-1 in their last nine away from home.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (15-10-3): Patrick Marleau scored with 22 seconds left in regulation Tuesday to snap a seven-game pointless streak. His 11 goals are behind pace to reach last season’s total (team-high 37 tallies). Top defenseman Douglas Murray has missed four games with a hand injury and is questionable to play on Thursday. Antti Niemi (11-6-3, 2.33 goals-against average) continues to carry the load as Antero Niittymaki works his way back from offseason hip surgery while toiling in Worcester of the American Hockey League. San Jose is 2-5-2 in its last nine games.
OVERTIME:
1. Colorado owns the top power play on the road at 27.3 percent, but was 0-for-10 on its three-game slide through western Canada last week. San Jose has the worst penalty-killing unit at home (69.6).
2. The under is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings in San Jose.