By: Eric He

AP photo SJ Sharks Brent Burns in beard scores go ahead goal in third period

The San Jose Sharks earned a split in their weekend road trip with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on Sunday afternoon.

Brent Burns scored a huge goal with under two minutes to play in the third period that untied a 2-2 game. Burns, trailing the rush, took a feed from Patrick Marleau, transferred it from his skate to stick and fired it past Semyon Varlamov to put the Sharks ahead. It was the second goal of the game for the smooth-skating defenseman, who now has six on the year.

Joe Pavelski added an empty-netter 19 seconds later to make it 4-2 Sharks. The Avalanche responded with a fluke goal by Cody McLeod that cut the lead to one, but San Jose was able to hang on for the win.

The score was deadlocked 2-2 heading into the third period, with each team scoring a goal in each of the first two periods. Jarome Iginla started the scoring with a power play goal early in the first. Joel Ward answered at the 7:00 mark, following up his own rebound in front after a steal by Marleau in the offensive zone.

The Sharks took a 2-1 lead on a shorthanded goal midway through the second period. Barclay Goodrow pinned the puck deep in Avalanche territory and then set up Burns for a booming slap shot from the right point that beat Varlamov.

But on the same power play, Colorado got the goal back on a wrist shot by Francois Beauchemin.

The Sharks outshot the Avalanche 32-26 and snapped a two-game losing skid. They are now back over .500 at 6-5-0 and return to San Jose for a four-game homestand that begins against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.