With just 20 games to go in the 2015-16 season, the Avs buckled down and beat a good Sharks team on a night that easily could have been defined by distraction.
In case you hadn't heard, the Avalanche play this crazy outdoor game at Coors Field on Saturday in front of nearly 50,000 people. It's nationally televised, a much-anticipated alumni game precedes it on Friday, and the surrounding streets will be filled festivities to celebrate the event. Even the most focused of professional athletes might find themselves distracted by the fanfare. But that's not what happened tonight.