Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates with Valeri Nichushkin (13) after scoring in overtime against the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center in San Jose Tue, April 4, 2023, (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Nathan MacKinnon’s overtime goal, his second of the game, lifted Colorado to a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks Tuesday at SAP Center in the first of two back-to-back home games against the Avalanche.

MacKinnon scored the game-winner for the Avalanche (45-24-6, 96 points) at 3:13 of the overtime period, assisted by Devon Toews. It was MacKinnon’s 36th tally of the season and Toews’ 36th helper.

The Avalanche took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission on first period goals by Jack Johnson at 4:29 and Evan Rodriguez at 6:24. San Jose cut its deficit to 2-1 at 12:55 of the second period on Kevin Labanc’s 14th gpal of the season from Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson.

Colorado extended its lead to 3-1 when MacKinnon scored his first goal of the game at 17:54 of the second period.

The Sharks (22-39-15, 59 points) forced overtime with a pair of goals in the third period – Jacob Peterson’s second goal of the season at 5:50 came on the power play while the Avs’ Kurtis MacDermid was serving a 2-minute minor for hooking. Labanc scored the equalizer at 7:11 from Noah Gregor and MacDonald. It was Labanc’s 15th goal of the season.

Alexander Georgiev stopped 28 of the 31 San Jose shots he faced in the Colorado nets. Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen faced 42 shots and made 38 saves.

The Sharks next two games are at home against Colorado on Thursday and Saturday against Edmonton,