San Jose Sharks 5, Colorado Avalanche 2: Sharks Lead Series 2-1

1st Period
The Sharks and Avalanche continued their series, switching locations to the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Sharks drew first blood with Alyn McCauley breaking in alone and firing a low wrist shot past David Aebischer (COL). However, Teemu Selanne (SJ) was then called for interference and the Sharks were forced onto the penalty kill. Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk and Peter Forsberg (COL) comprised the forwards on Colorado's 1st powerplay line, and their intense pressure lead Dan McGillis (SJ) to inadvertently put the puck into his own net on a goal that was credited as a powerplay goal to Joe Sakic (COL). Colorado took a 1-0 lead for the second time in the series. 

Bates Battaglia (COL) then almost scored while Evgeni Nabokov (SJ) was caught out of position, but he managed to recover just in time. Alexander Koroyluk (SJ) then took a hooking penalty to again give the Avalanche a powerplay, and Joe Sakic (COL) scored his second straight powerplay goal to give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead. However, minutes later Vincent Damphousse (SJ) broke in alone and, similar to Alyn McCauley's goal, beat the right pad of David Aebischer (COL) to tie the game at 2-2. The Avalanche outshot the Sharks 14-10 in the 1st period. 

2nd Period
Marco Sturm (SJ) took a pass from Patrick Marleau (SJ) on the period's opening shift and one-timed a shot past David Aebischer (COL) to give the Sharks their second lead of the game. Peter Forsberg (COL) then took an interference penalty on Sharks' defenseman Rob Davison to giver the Sharks their first powerplay of the game. Derek Morris (COL) failed to convert on a breakaway chance on the penalty kill, and Patrick Marleau (SJ) fail to score on a backhand shot against Aebischer (COL). Serge Aubin (COL) proved critical in killing off the remaining seconds of the San Jose powerplay, and Peter Forsberg exited the penalty box. The continued pressure of Sakic and Forsberg lead to multiple Colorado scoring chances, but Evgeni Nabokov managed to maintain the Sharks' lead. Patrick Marleau (SJ) drew a hooking penalty on Charlie Stephens (COL) to give the Sharks a second powerplay. Off of the ensuing faceoff, Peter Forsberg (COL) had a clear-cut breakaway against Evgeni Nabokov (SJ). Forsberg released a quick wrist shot and Nabokov stopped it without relinquishing a rebound. 

Adam Graves (SJ) had several scoring chances on the powerplay in front of the net, but none were successful. Marco Sturm, however, made several moves in the neutral zone, broke into the Colorado zone and roofed a backhand shot to controvert on the powerplay and give the Sharks a 4-2 lead. Colorado then switched to a more physical style of defense, and Patrick Marleau, unable to score all game, managed to score a backhand goal of his own to give the Sharks a 5-2 lead with their fourth unanswered goal. The Sharks had outshot the Avalanche 21-19 by the 2nd Intermission.

3rd  Period
David Aebischer (COL) stopped Patrick Marleau point-blank on an early San Jose scoring chance, and neither team managed to convert in the first few minutes of the period. Both teams continued their physical play and both goaltenders continued making routine and in-close saves for the entirety of the period. The Sharks outshot the Avalanche 30-23 for the game, and neither team scored nor committed a penalty in the final period. The following players were selected as the three stars of the game: 

3) Patrick Marleau (SJ) Registered 1 Goal, 1 Assists and +2 
2) Joe Sakic (SJ) Registered 2 Goals, 0 Assists and +2
1) Marco Sturm (SJ) Registered 2 Goals, 0 Assists and +1 

Final Score:
San Jose Sharks            5
Colorado Avalanche    2

The Sharks win in Colorado and take their first lead of the series, 2-1. Game 4 will be played in the Pepsi Center again, and is scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday, June 7th  at 7:00PM Pacific Standard Time: