Sharks 4, Avalanche 0
Devin Setoguchi recorded a hat trick and Antti Niemi turned aside all 25 shots he faced as the San Jose Sharks handed the visiting Colorado Avalanche their 10th straight loss with a 4-0 decision on Saturday.
Ryane Clowe scored a power-play goal and defenseman Jason Demers notched a pair of assists as San Jose (33-21-6) won its third in a row and improved to 12-2-1 in its last 15 games.
Setoguchi netted the game's first two goals 8 1/2 minutes apart in the first period and capped the scoring with his 15th tally of the season with 1:22 remaining in the third.
The Sharks extended their home winning streak to five games and remained one point behind the Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Coyotes, who recorded a 3-2 triumph over the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Niemi secured his fifth shutout of the season and 12th career by stopping eight shots in the first period, 11 in the second and six in the third. The 27-year-old Finn has now won seven of his last nine contests.
Peter Budaj finished with 29 saves to drop his sixth straight for Colorado (25-27-7), which has been outscored by a 42-14 margin during its 10-game losing skid (0-9-1).