If the Avalanche had been able to convert its two open-net opportunities Tuesday night, it might have at least come away with a point against the NHL’s top-ranked team.
Instead, the Avs came away with the same thing they got on those two chances, and every other chance against the San Jose Sharks: nothing.
San Jose shut out the faltering Avs 3-0 at the Pepsi Center. Colorado lost at home for the third time in four games.
Two goals by San Jose’s Milan Michalek were enough for Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who was both good and lucky in this one. The win also made for a triumphant return to Denver for 43-year-old Sharks winger Claude Lemieux, playing his second game for San Jose following a remarkable comeback.
Ryan Smyth and Ian Laperriere missed the open-net chances — although it is highly likely Smyth’s shot in the first period actually made it across the goal line.
But Smyth was denied a goal by video judges, who couldn’t see the puck after Smyth one-timed his bid into the midsection of Nabokov, who then fell over sideways with most of his body — and what seemed like the puck — carrying over into the net. But because Nabokov’s body covered the puck from every camera angle and because referees initially ruled no-goal, it couldn’t be overturned.
Laperriere flat-out missed his one-timer from the right side, after Ruslan Salei set him up perfectly with a long crossing pass. That would have cut the Sharks’ lead in half, but it didn’t happen when Laperriere missed wide left.
The Avs’ David Jones, who had just returned from a four-game absence with back troubles, suffered a shoulder injury in the second period after a hit into the boards by Douglas Murray.
The Sharks improved their NHL-leading points total to 75 with a 35-6-5 record.
