DENVER — Different team, same result.
With Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen sidelined by injuries, the Sharks (28-17-8) faced a Colorado Avalanche squad in Denver Tuesday featuring significantly less firepower than the team that beat them on Jan. 18.
Regardless, the Avalanche (29-19-4) found a way to squeak out a 3-1 win in the rematch without their top two scorers, capitalizing on a pair of defensive miscues by blue liner Brenden Dillon.
The loss ended the Sharks road trip on a sour note as they flew back to San Jose with a 2-2-1 record despite outshooting the Avalanche 39-20 Tuesday.