Sharks 5, Avalanche 4 (SO): Joe Pavelski scored the tying goal in the waning seconds to cap a wild final two minutes of regulation and Logan Couture netted the decisive tally in the shootout as San Jose extended its home point streak to nine games (8-0-1).

Brent Burns recorded a goal and two assists, Matt Irwin notched one of each and fellow defenseman Jason Demers also scored for the Sharks, who have won consecutive games for the first time since capturing six in a row from Nov. 21-Dec. 3. Captain Joe Thornton collected three assists and Antti Niemi made 29 saves as San Jose improved to 13-1-3 at home.

Defenseman Erik Johnson and John Mitchell scored 12 seconds apart late in the third period to erase a deficit for the Avalanche, who have earned points in six of their last seven contests (3-1-3). Rookie Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog also tallied, Ryan O'Reilly notched two assists and Semyon Varlamov stopped 41 shots.

Johnson - who also had an assist - forged a 3-3 tie with 1:51 remaining, drilling a shot from the right point between Niemi's pads four seconds after Colorado's power play expired, and Mitchell scored from a bad angle along the left-wing boards moments later to stun the home crowd. The Sharks showed their resiliency, however, as Thornton made a pass from behind the net to Pavelski, who whipped the puck past Varlamov from the low slot with 19.6 seconds to play.

Colorado opened the scoring with less than nine minutes remaining in the first period as MacKinnon beat Niemi with a snap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle during a power play. Demers answered with a man-advantage goal less than three minutes later, beating Varlamov with a rising one-timer from the top of the left circle.

The Avalanche went back in front with 49 seconds left in the session as Paul Stastny made a pass from the right circle to Landeskog, who fired the puck past Niemi from alone in the slot. Thornton helped San Jose draw even again, setting up Burns for a slap shot from the top of the right circle at 5:53 of the second.

The Sharks cashed in on another power play later in the period to take their first lead of the night. Defenseman Dan Boyle dished the puck to Irwin, whose blast from the left point found its way between Varlamov's pads with 6:58 remaining for a 3-2 edge.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Thornton climbed within three assists of tying Alex Delvecchio (825) for 25th place on the all-time list. He also is 12 points away from pulling even with Bobby Hull (1,170) for 48th in NHL history. ... Couture's point drought reached six games, leaving him one goal and two assists shy of 100 in both categories for his career. ... Colorado D Jan Hejda appeared in his 500th NHL game. ... Johnson's goal was his fourth in five contests, while Avalanche C Matt Duchene recorded an assist to give him 13 points in his last seven games.