The Colorado Avalanche did enough to manage a 4–2 win over the San Jose Sharks thanks to two goals from one of their Team Finland representatives, Artturi Lehkonen. San Jose made it close and interesting in the final frame, but Colorado got back in the win column.

This potential first-round matchup could be intriguing to watch come April. Nonetheless, the Avs could be favored as they took the season series tonight, 2–1.

View From the Mountaintop

The stats don’t lie in this game – the Avalanche dominated San Jose. But the Sharks’ netminder, Yaroslav Askarov, was dominant in the crease. His stops alone kept the game from getting out of control early on. San Jose managed to get back into the game in the third, making things uncomfortable in Ball Arena. Mackenzie Blackwood was also solid enough in the third period to help close things out. However, the second Sharks goal was one he might want back. His stops, plus two Lehkonen tallies and a late Josh Manson winner, were enough in the end.

Lehkonen’s first goal was an ugly goal in the blue paint, which somehow got in. But future Canadian teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar set up his second goal nicely. MacKinnon recorded his 700th assist, becoming the 63rd player in NHL history to accomplish the feat. He became the second in Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history to reach 700, joining none other than Joe Sakic. Meanwhile, Makar snapped what was a quiet four-game pointless streak with the assist on the goal as well. Valeri Nichushkin led the way on Wednesday evening with three points.


Prior to the start of the game, there was a nice ceremony to send off the Avalanche Olympic athletes. MacKinnon, Makar, and Devon Toews will be on Team Canada. Lehkonen and Joel Kiviranta will be on Team Finland. Martin Necas will be on Team Czechia. Gabriel Landeskog will be on Team Sweden. Finally, Brock Nelson will be on Team USA. They were sent off nicely with the much-needed win, with the Minnesota Wild beating the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars beating the St. Louis Blues as of the publishing of this article. Nonetheless, Colorado will still be atop the Central Division and the NHL in this two-week stretch.

Up Next

The Avs will enjoy a lengthy break away as a group, with several members heading off to the Olympics. Colorado will next play in the first leg of a back-to-back on the road against the Utah Mammoth. Puck drop is on Wednesday, February 25, at 7:00 p.m. MT.