SAN JOSE – San Jose was playing to prep for the playoffs, while Colorado was playing for a chance to win the Central Division title Friday night at SAP Center.
The Sharks, set to open the best of seven series with Los Angeles next week, prevailed 5-1 over the Avalanche. Colorado remained even with St. Louis with 111 points with one game to play in the regular season.
San Jose completed the home portion of its season by playing rookie Tomas Hertl for the first time since the knee injury suffered Dec. 19 against the Kings. The 20-year-old played 36 games, finishing with 15 goals and 10 assists.
After the Sharks carried a 2-1 lead into the second intermission, Marty Havlat scored three goals for a 5-1 lead.
The right winger deflected a Logan Couture shot into the net at 5:26 of the third for a two-goal edge. Havlat, on a breakaway, turned a rebound into a shot from a tough angle to make it 4-1. After Colorado pulled the goaltender with 5:30 left, Havlat accomplished the hat trick with an empty-netter at 15:04.
San Jose chased Avalanche starting goaltender Reto Berra off the ice after 10:11 of play with two even-strength goals.
Dan Boyle deposited a shot into the net at 3:01 to open the scoring. The goal was Boyle’s 12th of the season and left him tied with Jason Demers among Shark defensemen with 34 points.
Patrick Marleau connected for his 33rd goal of the campaign at 10:11 for the 2-0 San Jose edge. That play led to Colorado coach Patrick Roy bringing in Jean-Sebastian Giguere between the pipes.
Colorado scored the lone goal of the second period at the 15:18 mark. Ryan O’Reilly hustled the keep t puck inside the San Jose zone. Maxime Talbot controlled the puck toward the left post before pulling the puck back to Patrick Bordeleau for the open net one-timer. Bordeleau has sis goals for the year, eight in his career.
San Jose completes the regular season Saturday in Phoenix against the Coyotes. Phoenix lost a chance to make the playoffs when Dallas defeated St. Louis Friday to secure the eighth spot.
