Warriors Lose In Final Seconds to Spurs 110-108

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San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) leads the charge after hitting the game winning shot at the Chase Center in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors on Sun Mar 20, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Lose In Final Seconds to Spurs 110-108

By Barbara Mason

What will the Golden State Warriors look like without Stephen Curry taking the court for at last the next two weeks? The Warriors got their answer Sunday night when the Warriors (47-23) took on the San Antonio Spurs (27-44) in a two point loss 110-108 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The Warriors know that everything including games won go way down without Curry playing. This means that everybody has to step their game up offensively and defensively. These guys need to be a fine-oiled machine when Curry does comes back for the playoffs. The team now has the time to gel and prepare for the post-season and Curry’s return.

The lineup for the Warriors in this game was a more than capable bunch with the expected Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney.

It was a very slow start for Golden State falling behind 22-10 in the first quarter. The Spurs were keeping the Warriors out of rhythm which resulted in so many missed shots for Golden State. This was the obvious game plan that the Spurs came in with. San Antonio led after the first quarter 36-22. The Warriors had four turnovers in the quarter and had a lot of work to do in the second quarter.

The Warriors cut the Spurs lead in the second quarter to four points but San Antonio quickly pulled back to a ten point lead. Golden State wanted to end the half on a high taking the momentum away from San Antonio.

The Warriors did cut the 14 point Spur lead to six. San Antonio had a beat-the-buzzer three point play to end the half leading 63-57. Despite that last play the Warriors did have to feel good after two quarters. They played with more energy and rhythm in the second quarter and needed to take that into the third.

As the third quarter got underway San Antonio proved hard to catch. Golden State had not led once in the game. The Warriors got within one point in the early minutes of the quarter but had yet to take the lead.

The one thing that the Warriors had going for them in this game was their offensive rebounding which was great with second and third chances. When it looked like the Warriors had a better rhythm going a miserable call on Green got Green ejected from the game and the Warriors were facing yet another challenge.

The Spurs took advantage of the fracas and took a ten point lead. The 12 turnovers that the Warriors had were not make things any easier for Golden State. The Warriors were fighting to stay within striking distance.

The Warriors were coming up with some stellar possessions but still trailed. With 27 seconds left in the third quarter, the Warriors took their first lead of the game 84-83. They took that lead into the fourth quarter.

Going into the fourth quarter there had been 23 Spur points off Warrior turnovers. This game would go down to the wire. With under three minutes left in the game it was all tied up at 101. San Antonio would foul Wiggins with three seconds left on the clock and the Warriors would take a 108- 107 lead. An unfortunate rebounding foul on Kevon Looney iced the game for San Antonio 110-108.

The Warriors had enough to win this game but it just didn’t happen. Poole finished with 28 points the high in this game. This was his ninth straight game with 20 or more points. Thompson had 24 points and off the bench Porter Jr. had 16 points and 16 rebounds. Great numbers for the Warriors. It’s a loss and it stinks but a lot of positives to take away from this game.

Next up for the Warriors will be the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 PT.

Sharks Beat Coyotes 4-2, Gregor Scores Gamer

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San Jose Sharks center Noah Gregor (73) scores a third period goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) for the game winner at SAP Center in San Jose on Sun Mar 20, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The San Jose Sharks beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Sunday, ending their losing streak at three games. Nick Bonino, Timo Meier, Noah Gregor and Rudolfs Balcers scored for the Sharks. James Reimer made 23 saves for the win. Phil Kessel and Lawson Crouse scored for Arizona. Karel Vejmelka made 25 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said: “I thought we came out hard, first five minutes. I thought that we started trying to be a little too fancy, not shooting enough pucks.” He mentioned how the Sharks knew very well that the Coyotes play a similar neutral zone game to their own, then added: “A little hard-headed, we refused to sort of chip pucks, dump pucks. We tried to skate through their wall, just as we’d want teams to do to us.”

Nevertheless, he said that the team “found a way to win, where lots of times this year it’s been the opposite.”

Of Noah Gregor, Of Noah Gregor, who has had terrible puck luck this season, Sharks Captain Logan Couture said:

Mario [Ferraro] told me before the game “Greggy’s scoring tonight. I said “no he’s not.” (laughs) So I was wrong. Great goal, great goal. He used his speed, I though he was excellent all night. I think he was probably our best player. All over the puck, creating chances. You know, he’s had a lot of games like that this year.

The Sharks scored on their first shot of their first shift of the game for a 1-0 lead. Nick Bonino redirected Andrew Colgiano’s shot into Anton Stralman’s skate for the goal. Assists went to Cogliano and Noah Gregor.

That lead lasted until late in the second period when Phil Kessel caught a pass across the slot from Lawson Crouse. Kessel had an open net to tie it up. Assists went to Crouse and Cam Dineen.

It was a sluggish game through the first two periods. The shot count was 15-14 Arizona. The Sharks had two power plays and the Coyotes had one. The Coyotes got three shots in that one power play and the Sharks had just one shot in their two opportunities.

The Coyotes took a lead at 15:09 of the third period. Lawson Crouse scored on the power play with a redirection off the heel of his stick. Assists went to Kessel and Shayne Gostisbehere.

Timo Meier tied it back up less that 30 seconds later. Alexander Barabanov tried for a pass around the boards to Tomas Hertl but it bounced away from Hertl and went right to Meier for the shot. Assists went to Barabanov and Jaycob Megna.

Noah Gregor scored the game winner less than a minute after that. Gregor had the puck behind the net and he saw the goalie move left so he went right for a backhand wrap-around. Logan Couture got the assist.

Rudolfs Balcers scored the insurance goal at 19:10 into an empty net with a shot from a bad angle.

The Sharks led the third in shots 15-10. Each team had a power play in the third, and both power plays had four shots on goal. The Sharks maintained a slight lead in the face-offs, finishing with 51%.

Jonathan Dahlen took a puck to the face late in the game and did not return. Alexander Barabanov was cross-checked and went into the boards head first but he stayed in the game. Andrew Cogliano Crashed into his own net but he also stayed in.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday in Calgary against the Flames at 6:00 PM PT.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda look to get revenge on Heat Tuesday night at SAP Center

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The San Jose Barracuda Sasha Cmelevski scored the Barracuda first goal of their game against the Tucson Roadrunners at Tucson Arena on Sat Mar 19, 2022 ( file photo from nhl.com)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The SJ Barracuda are getting some offense from The San Jose Barracuda beat the Tucson Roadrunners 5-2 Saturday. Sasha Cmelevski, Lane Pedersen, Nick Cicek, Joachim Blichfeld and Nick Merkley who scored goals against the Arizona Roadrunners on Saturday night in the 5-2 win.

#2 The Barracuda goaltender Alexei Melnichuk made 32 saves for the win and allowed two goals.

#3 For the first Barracuda goal of the game, Sasha Chmelevski scored the opening goal for San Jose at 6:18 of the first period. He carried the puck into the zone and then cut across to the slot, evading defenders. As he passed through the slot he took the shot and beat Prosvetov on the glove side. 

#4 Lane Pedersen made it 2-0 at 14:45 with a shot from a bad angle along the boards that snuck by Prosvetov. An assist went to Jayden Halbgewachs.

#5 The Barracuda return back to SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Mar 22 to host the Stockton Heat the last time these two teams met the Heat beat the Barracuda by three goals 6-3 on Sat Mar 12th at Stockton Arena.

San Jose Barracuda podcasts with Marko are heard Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes fall to Minnesota United 1-0

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The Minnesota United FC’s Luis Amarilla scored nine minutes into the first half that’s all the United would need to defeat the visiting San Jose Earthquakes at Allianz Field in St. Paul Sat Mar 19, 2022 (file photo from mls.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

ST.PAUL, Minn. — Luis Amarilla scored a first-half strike, and it was all Minnesota United FC needed to overcome the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 at Allianz Field on Saturday night.

Amarilla had a mini-redemption arc over nine minutes of an action-packed first half to get MNUFC (2-0-2) on the board. After just putting a chip attempt over the crossbar in the 23rd minute, leading a break that looked sure to produce the game’s opener, Amarilla struck gold in the 32nd minute, making a defense-splitting run to meet Robin Lod’s pass from the wing, and finishing smartly.

“We knew they could hurt us with [Luis] Amarilla, where they looked for him a lot with their crosses and that’s how they scored. After they went up, we still couldn’t find our groove. It was one of the worst starts that we’ve had,” said Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda.

In the second half, the teams dueled each other without adding to the scoresheet. Benji Kikanovic came closest for the Quakes (0-3-1) on a 56th-minute attempt. The Loons threatened to double their lead on a Bongokuhle Hlongwane corker and a Lod scorpion kick that nearly fell below the crossbar before an attentive JT Marcinkowski palmed it out.

The Quakes’ keeper also saved on a 1-on-1 situation in stoppage time against Franco Fragapance to give his offense one last-gasp chance.

“The roles changed a little bit at halftime and that gave us some more numbers out wide to try and create some overloads in wide areas. I thought we did that well late on,” said Quakes defender Tanner Beason.

Dayne St. Clair had a perfect clean sheet as the Quakes did not register a shot on net. Marcinkowski made four saves on five shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Each team finished with four corner kicks.

The Quakes now hold a 4-4-2 all-time record against Minnesota United FC, including a 2-2-1 record on the road.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns back to action after the International break as they host Austin FC on Saturday 4/2 at 4:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Kaval says until a new stadium plan is in place more favorite players will leave

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval (center) addresses the media with Ces Butner, president of the Board of Port Commissioners (left) and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf (right) at a news conference back on Nov 28, 2018 regarding the new Howard Terminal park in downtown Oakland. This past week the Seaport Planning Advisory Commission recommended against the new Howard Terminal ballpark in what is considered a major setback for the A’s (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry let’s ask you about some of what Oakland A’s president David Kaval said concerning why the A’s are unloading some of their key players. Kaval said in order to have a high payroll the A’s have to have a facility that’s on the level of a Camden Yards, Oracle Park, Petco Park. At the Coliseum the A’s can’t make that kind of revenue and once the A’s can get that kind of revenue and new park to play in then they can consider a high payroll.

#2 Kaval said that a lot of the players that were traded away, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Starling Marte, Matt Chapman, and soon to leave A’s pitcher Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are being dealt to see if the A’s can pick up a good return on prospects and Kaval said it’s no secret that vice president Billy Beane and general manager David Forst have built this team up like this in the past.

#3 Kaval said the A’s have not had a normal season in three years that has impacted the team financially, In 2020 a 60 game season with no fans, in 2021 a 162 game season with Covid 19 restrictions, and 2022 a lockout to begin the season.

#4 Kaval said in not signing the star players and keeping key players not having a new stadium in place holding back the A’s adding that the Coliseum in antiquated and it’s been ten years since it’s life expectancy and in order to move ahead with keeping a higher payroll a new stadium is needed.

#5 Kaval said on the higher ticket prices and key players leaving that everything in dependent on getting a new stadium and that elected officials and fans understand that raising revenue is all riding on getting a new stadium.

Jerry does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda Beat Roadrunners 5-2; San Jose takes two out three from Roadrunners

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The San Jose Barracuda take the rubber game match against the Tucson Roadrunners at Tucson Arena on Sat Mar 19, 2022 to conclude the three game series (image by the San Jose Barracuda)

By Mary Walsh

TUCSON– The San Jose Barracuda beat the Tucson Roadrunners 5-2 Saturday. Sasha Cmelevski, Lane Pedersen, Nick Cicek, Joachim Blichfeld and Nick Merkley scored for San Jose. Alexei Melnichuk made 32 saves for the win. Cole Hults and Travis Barron scored for Tucson. Ivan Prosvetov made 28 saves in the loss.

Sasha Chmelevski scored the opening goal for San Jose at 6:18 of the first period. He carried the puck into the zone and then cut across to the slot, evading defenders. As he passed through the slot he took the shot and beat Prosvetov on the glove side. Assists went to Evan Weinger and Patrick Holway.

Lane Pedersen made it 2-0 at 14:45 with a shot from a bad angle along the boards that snuck by Prosvetov. An assist went to Jayden Halbgewachs.

The Roadrunners got on the board during a five-on-three power play at 10:17 of the second period. The Barracuda’s Ryan Merkley and Sasha Chmelevski were in the box. Cole Hults took the shot from above the circle on a pass from Jan Jenik who was down by the goal line. The puck went over Melnichuk’s shoulder and in. Assists went to Jenik and Michael Carcone.

Nick Cicek restored San Jose’s two-goal lead at 16:24 with a shot from above the circle. Assists went to Weinger and Adam Raska.

At 7:15 of the third, Travis Barron tipped Matt Foley’s shot from the point and made it 3-2. Assists went to Foley and Mitchell Lewandowski. Right before Barron’s goal, Prosvetov made three impressive saves at the other end, fending off a shooting frenzy from the Barracuda.

Joachim Blichfeld scored on the power play at 8:38. After scrambling to keep the puck in, he carried it down to the face-off dot and took a shot that went through some traffic and over Prosvetov’s shoulder. Jake McGrew got an assist.

Sasha Chmelevski won a race to the puck behind the net and made a quick pass to Nick Merkley who had just arrived in front of the net. Merkley wasted no time and whipped the puck into the net at 13:25.

The shots were very close through the game, with the final count being 34-33 Roadrunners. Artemi Kniazev led San Jose in shots with seven. The Barracuda had five power plays and scored on one. Their penalty kill allowed one goal in five penalties.

The Barracuda next play on Tuesday back in San Jose against the Stockton Heat at 7:00 PM PT.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: NHL Trade deadline some big names up for grabs; plus NHL action from Friday

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Brandon Hagel was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh from the Chicago Blackhawks on Fri Mar 18, 2022 (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt how important is it that the Tampa Bay Lightning picked up Brandon Hagel in exchange for forwards Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh from the Chicago Blackhawks?

#2 Matt, talk about the key winning goal by the Buffalo Sabers Tage Thompson that helped get the win over the Calgary Flames in overtime at 3:07 for a narrow 1-0 win. Also big hand for the Sabers goaltender Dustin Tokarski who stopped 24 shots for the shutout.

#3 The Ottawa Senators Josh Norris help end the Senators three game losing streak with a go ahead goal in the third period that handed the Senators a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night. The Sens Aaron Forsberg stopped 28 out 29 shots.

#4 The injuries are piling up for the Vegas Golden Knights the latest have center Jack Eichel doubtful for against the Los Angeles Kings for Saturday. Eichel blocked a shot with his hand and could sit out. His teammates goaltender Robin Lehner, two defencemen Brayden McNabb and Alec Martinez and three forwards Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, and Reilly Smith are all on the injured list. Inspite of that the Knights snapped a five game losing streak with a win over the Florida Panthers 5-3 on Thursday night.

#5 Matt, just to name a few of the players who are trade deadline as of this morning maybe you could update us, the Vancouver Canucks Brock Boeser, New York Islanders Cal Clutterbuck, Andrew Copp Winnipeg Jets, Jake DeBrusk Boston Bruins, and Marc Andre Fleury Chicago Blackhawks. I’ll let you also add more to whose on the trade block for tonight.

Matt does the NHL podcasts each Saturday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB 2022 Season back to the Past and Future

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You won’t see Arizona Diamondback pitcher Madison Bumgarner taking swings at the plate anymore with the new Universal Designated Hitter rule starting this season (AP News file photo)

MLB 2022 Season: Back to the Past and Future

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

After a short Spring Training because of the 99-day lockout by owners, each team will embark on their regular 162-game journey for the 2022 season, beginning on April 7.

New this 2022 Season

  • DH (designated hitter) now will be Universal. Sorry “old school” National League fans.
  • Pitchers will no longer have a spot in the batting order. Sorry for Madison Bumgarner.
  • Playoffs will expand from 10 teams (five each league) to 12 teams (six each league) Owners happy more money.
  • Three Divisional winners and 3 Wild Card teams in each league. The top two division winners in each league will receive byes to the Division Series. The other four teams in each league will play best-of-three series in what will be called the Wild Card round, with the higher seed hosting all three games.
  • No re-seeding for Division Series. The No. 1 seed plays the winner of the 4-5 series, and the No. 2 seed plays the winner of 3-6. – No more games known as (Game 163) to decide playoff spots. Playoff spots will be determined through tiebreaker formulas.
  • The Rule 5 Draft has been canceled for this season. Usually held each December, the Rule 5 Draft allows clubs without a 40-man roster to selected certain non-40 man roster players from other clubs. Clubs draft in reverse order of the standing from the previous season. No more.
  • There will be complete 9 inning games for Double Headers. (Double-Headers made-up from games lost because of lockout or rainouts this year.)
  • No “automatic runner” at second base at the start of extra-innings. It didn’t look like baseball.
  • Players’ uniforms will feature advertising, including patches on jerseys and decals on batting helmets. More revenue.

-The number of times a player can be optioned to the minor leagues in one season will be limited. –

Back to the Future: Beginning in 2023 – A Joint Competition Committee comprise of four active players and six members appointed by MLB plus one umpire will be tasked with making decisions on other changes, such as pitch clock, limits on defensive shifts, larger bases, and the automatic ball/strike system. Any rule changes that committee adopts can be implemented with 45 days’ notice to the players.

Pitch clocks will be used. There will be a ban on defensive shifts, an automatic ball/strike zone will exist and there will be larger bases. In 2023, teams will play five fewer games against division opponents, instead of playing one series against every team in the other league. Teams will continue to play their “rival” Inter-league team four times, twice at each ballpark.

(More on Pitch Clocks) In 2021, MLB implemented a pitch clock in the Low-A West five weeks into the season, giving pitchers 15 SECONDS WITH NO ONE ON BASE and 17 SECONDS WITH RUNNERS ON. The average time of a nine-inning game dropped from 3 hours and 2 minutes to 2 hours and 41 minutes after the pitch clock was introduced, with offense jumping across the board.

MLB & MLPA agreed to host games or tours in the following locations over the next 5 years: México, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Asia, London and Paris.

Social Media News: Apple takes a Bite at Baseball. Apple now owns rights to the Friday-night package of MLB games. They will have exclusive rights to telecast two “Friday Night Baseball” games each week, a total of about 50 games per year, in the U.S and eight countries overseas, via Apple TV Plus.

So let’s make if fun again, because in the end, it is a kid’s game.

Hasta la vista.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play talent for the Oakland A’s heard on flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco LeGrande and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda give it their best effort but can’t hang on lose to Tucson 4-3 in OT

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The San Jose Barracuda’s left winger Jayden Halbgewachs (89) and goaltender Zachary Edmond (35) prepare to defend the net against the Tucson Roadrunners offense at Tucson Arena on Fri Mar 18, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

By Len Shapiro

The San Jose Barracuda (19-30-2) gave it all they had but just couldn’t hold onto the lead at Tucson Arena. The Barracuda down two goals came back in the third period to knot it up 3-3 to force overtime. The Barracuda were outshot in the shootout and dropped their second of this three game series 4-3 to the Tucson Roadrunners (18-28-4).

The Barracuda did have one positive outcome from Friday night’s thriller they continue to put the puck in the net on the power play they did it twice to later tie the Roadrunners. In the first period San Jose got help from Joachim Blichfeld. It was the ninth power play goal this season scoring in the first 27 seconds on the game.

San Jose’s Lane Pederson continues to be consistent scoring in his third straight game and notching his fifth goal of the season scoring in five of his last six games. In facing the Roadrunners Pederson’s former team he has got revenge on his old teammates scoring a goal in each of the three games he’s faced them.

Jayden Halbgewachs who hadn’t scored a goal in five games picked up one on Friday night for his 15th of the season. Halbgewachs third period goal was the tying goal and it couldn’t have come at a better time marking his sixth power play goal for the 2021-22 campaign.

The Barracuda goaltender Zach Edmond playing in his seventh game for San Jose (3-2-2) had his hands full trying to stop the Roadrunners who kept him standing on his head all night. Edmond stopped 33 shots allowing four goals.

Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer has one big take away from Friday night’s game and that the Barracuda have now scored multiple power play goals over their last seven games. While the power play has improved the Barracuda have now lost three of their four games.

The Barracuda are 1-1 in this series with the Roadrunners and play the rubber game of this match tonight at Tucson Arena for a 7:00pm PDT face off. The Barracuda return back to SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Mar 22 to host the Stockton Heat the last time these two teams met the Heat beat the Barracuda by three goals 6-3 on Sat Mar 12th at Stockton Arena.

Sharks Fall 5-3 to Avalanche in Hard Fought Game

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Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) lights the lamp for the game winner in the third period against San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) at SAP Arena in San Jose on Fri Mar 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE– The San Jose Sharks lost to the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 on Friday. Cale Makar, Nazem Kadri, Valeri Nichushkin, and Darren Helm scored for the Avalanche. Pavel Francouz made 25 saves for the win. Jeffrey Viel, Rudolfs Balcers and Erik Karlsson scored for the Sharks. Zach Sawchenko made 24 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said:

“It was a fairly even game for the first two periods. We just got to capitalize on our chances. Same thing as last night. We didn’t have any goal support. But defensively, we did some right things until we started opening it up a little bit at the end. Obviously we gave a few breaks but all in all, you know, it was a hard-fought game. I thought the guys battled hard, especially after a back-to-back, against the best team in the League.”

Sharks forward Rudolfs Balcers talked about how the veteran leaders helped the team rally in the third period, despite being down 4-1: “They’re our leaders. They’ve been around for a while, you know. That’s the guys you rely on every night, and, you know, when you see them go out there and battle until the end, you know, I think it just motivates the whole bench.”

One of those leaders, Logan Couture, seemed to score the first goal of the game at 6:07 of the first. Unfortunately, the Avalanche challenged the goal for offside. Upon review, the officials saw that Couture did cross the line a hair before the puck.

The first goal, then, went to the Avalanche on a power play at 10:08. Nazem Kadri tipped Mikko Rantanen’s pass from about eight feet above the blue paint. a second assist went to Cale Makar.

Darren Helm made it 2-0 at 14:14, when he picked up a puck that Erik Karlsson lost control of in the Sharks’ zone. Helm slipped by Karlsson and lifted the puck over Sawchenko. An assist went to Andre Burakovsky, who poked the puck off of Karlsson’s stick.

Jacob Middleton fought Kurtis MacDermid after the first goal. J.T. Compher and Marc-Edouard Vlasic had matching roughing minors in the final seconds of the period.

Those matching minors put the teams four-on-four to start the second period. Cale Makar scored 34 seconds in. He took a shot from above the circle, then gathered up his own rebound just above the goal line to score. Assists went to Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews.

Valeri Nichushkin made it 4-0 at 15:29. Initially, he redirected pass from Cale Makar, but Sawchenko stopped that. The goalie left a rebound and Nchushkin was still there to lift the puck in. Assists went to Makar and MacKinnon.

Jeffrey Viel got the Sharks on the board at 19:19, tipping a shot from Marc-Edouard Vlasic. A secondary assist went to Nicolas Meloche.

Rudolfs Balcers scored 13:02 into the third period. He knocked the puck loose with a hit along the boards and then took it to the net for a look-away shot, aided by Vlasic who was there to make it a two-on-one and sell the look. Assists went to Alexander Barabanov and Tomas Hertl.

With 3:21 remaining, the Sharks pulled Sawchenko for an extra skater. Erik Karlsson made it 4-3 with a goal at 18:35. Logan Couture knocked down a high clearing attempt and then passed it to Karlsson. Karlsson seemed to fumble the pass a bit, then gathered it for a wrist shot into the far corner.

Valeri Nichushkin scored into the empty net when he and Nathan MacKinnon went two-on-one against Brent Burns.

The Avalanche out-shot the Sharks 29-28, with the shot count close in each period. On the power play, the Sharks had five opportunities and six shots. They also gave up five short-handed shots. The Sharks had one penalty to kill, and gave up one shot, one goal and had one short-handed shot. In the face-off circle, the Sharks won 54% of the draws.

James Reimer was backing up Sawchenko Friday, and Adin Hill is injured.

The Sharks next play on Sunday against the Arizona Coyotes, in San Jose at 4:00 PM PT.