Makar has goal, two assists for Avalanche in win against Sharks

SAN JOSE -- Cale Makar had a goal and two assists, and the Colorado Avalanche held on for a 5-3 win against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Friday.

Valeri Nichushkin scored twice, and Nathan MacKinnon had three assists for the Avalanche (44-13-5), who have won three straight. Pavel Francouz made 25 saves in his first start since signing a two-year contract March 12.
"I think our tempo was high in the first two [periods]," Makar said. "I think it was still high in the third, we just had a few defensive breakdowns that obviously cost us. Overall, I think I liked the compete of our team."
Jeffrey Viel, Rudolfs Balcers and Erik Karlsson scored, and Zach Sawchenko made 24 saves for the Sharks (26-27-8), who have lost three straight, including 3-0 at the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
"I thought it was a hard-fought game," San Jose coach Bob Boughner said. "I thought we played hard against these guys. We didn't give up much for the first two periods, but they got a power-play goal early in the game and we had opportunities on our power play where we didn't bury.
"I thought the guys battled hard, and especially on a back-to-back against the best team in the league."

Logan Couture appeared to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 6:07 of the first period, but the goal was overturned on video review when it was determined Couture preceded the puck into the offensive zone.
Nazem Kadri gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 10:18. The Avalanche were on the power play, and Kadri redirected Mikko Rantanen's shot from the right face-off circle. It was Kadri's 499th NHL point.
"When it's all said and done, I thought our penalty kill did a nice job [5-for-5] and the power play went 1-for-1, so I think special teams was huge," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "It was an area I was a little bit worried about."
Darren Helm made it 2-0 at 14:14 after Karlsson lost possession of the puck.
Makar increased the lead to 3-0 34 seconds into the second period by knocking in his own rebound. It was his 22nd goal, the most by an NHL defenseman in a single season since Brent Burns scored 29 in 2016-17.
"I thought we gave them too much time, and obviously they're a really good team, so you can't give these guys a lot of time," Viel said. "Obviously, we need to play a full 60, especially against a team like Colorado."
Nichushkin made it 4-0 at 15:29 with a wrist shot over Sawchenko's outstretched leg.

Viel cut it to 4-1 at 19:19 when he tipped Marc-Edouard Vlasic's shot from the blue line. It was Viel's first goal since Jan. 11 (16 games).
"I think getting a goal there at the end of the second was huge," Viel said. "Got the momentum back a little bit. The message [between periods] was 'let's get the next one and see what happens.' And we did and kept it interesting."
Balcers brought the Sharks within 4-2 at 13:02 of the third period with a shot from the right face-off circle that went five-hole.
"It was a good third period," Balcers said. "We were all over them and generated a lot of good chances. Obviously it's frustrating to not get a point out of it, but that's the way it goes."
Karlsson made it 4-3 at 18:35 with a shot through traffic before Nichushkin scored into an empty net at 19:45 for the 5-3 final.
"They're a fast team, and when you see the skill set of those players, especially on the blue line and their top two lines there, it shows how deep that team really is and how good they are," Sawchenko said. "So I think that showed huge character from our group of guys, to come back there and make it a game at the end. Unfortunately, we fell short."
NOTES:Makar is one goal from tying the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques record for defenseman in a season (23, Sandis Ozolinsh, 1996-97). Makar's 69 points are the second-most in a season in Avalanche/Nordiques history behind Steve Duchesne (82, 1992-93). … Avalanche defensemen have scored 52 goals this season, one shy of tying the franchise record from 1992-93. … Forward Nico Sturm had two shots in 15:07 in his Colorado debut after being acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. … Viel's goal ended Colorado's shutout streak at 160:51, dating to a 2-0 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on March 10, and San Jose's drought at 146:32, dating to a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.