Sharks 5, Avalanche 1
SHARKS 5, AVALANCHE 1: Joe Pavelski scored a pair of goals as host San Jose climbed into first place in the Pacific Division and damaged Colorado's playoff chances.
Andrew Desjardins, Torrey Mitchell and Ryane Clowe also tallied, defenseman Dan Boyle registered two assists and Antti Niemi made 31 saves for the Sharks, who extended their home winning streak against the Avalanche to eight games and moved one point ahead of Dallas in the Pacific.
Defenseman Shane O'Brien scored and Semyon Varlamov stopped 31 shots for Colorado, which is tied for ninth with Los Angeles, one point behind seventh-place Phoenix and Dallas.
After a scoreless first period, San Jose got on the board less than four minutes into the second. Defenseman Justin Braun's one-timer from the left point was blocked in front, but Pavelski pounced on the rebound in front and buried it for his 28th goal.
Desjardins doubled the lead - and ended his 39-game goalless drought - at 9:19 when he received a backhand pass from behind the net by Tommy Wingels and beat Varlamov from the right faceoff dot. It was Desjardins' first tally since Dec. 21 against Tampa Bay.
Colorado halved the deficit less than three minutes later as Ryan O'Reilly made a cross-slot pass from the left circle to O'Brien, who scored from the right side of the crease.
Mitchell restored the Sharks' two-goal advantage with 4:16 remaining in the period. Michal Handzus gained possession behind the net and made a backhand pass from the left side of the net to Mitchell, who beat Varlamov from the doorstep for his first goal in eight contests.
Pavelski completed his 17th career two-goal performance and fourth this season 35 seconds into the third. During a power play, Pavelski grabbed a loose puck in the right corner, took it to the net and jammed it in at the post for his 300th career point.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Pavelski has recorded five goals in his last six games and at least one point in five of six contests. ... The Sharks scored more than three goals for the first time in 21 matches. ... Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog notched an assist to pull even with Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for the rookie scoring lead with 49 points apiece. ... Boyle's first assist of the night was his 500th career point. ... San Jose completed a 3-0-0 homestand.