For the ninth consecutive game, the Avalanche produced a power-play goal. And on Thursday at Ball Arena, it served as the game-winning tally in a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Winger Mikko Rantanen scored his team-leading 34th goal on the power play to give Colorado a 3-2 lead with 7:43 remaining in the third period. Winger Andre Burakovsky added one at even strength 3:01 later and the Avs completed a three-game regular-season sweep over San Jose.
The Avs, who were 11 for 24 (45.8%) on the power play in their previous eight games, got top-line center Nathan MacKinnon back in the lineup after a one-game absence because of a hand injury that originally was deemed significant.