Two days after ending Game 3 with an embarassingly accurate shot into his own net, Dan Boyle got a bit of redemption on Tuesday night, scoring the Sharks’ lone goal in regulation and saving what could have been the game winner for Colorado with a diving breakup of an Avalanche rush. Evgeni Nabokov played probably his best game of the series, stopping 33 shots for the Sharks to help them gain a crucial second win to even the series at 2-2 before heading back to San Jose.
Boyle didn’t take long to make amends for hisGame 3 error, scoring a powerplay goal just over a minute into the game with a blast from the top of the circles that Craig Anderson never had a chance to make a save on. Anderson was good the rest of the way, though, finishing the game with 43 saves just days after recording 51 saves in Colorado’s overtime win on Sunday night.
Paul Stastny drew the Avs even with a tip in off John-Michael Liles drive from the point on the powerplay early in the 2nd. For the last 37 minutes of regulation, it was all about the goaltenders, as both Anderson and Nabokov made a number of huge saves to keep the game knotted at 1-1. The two teams continued the up tempo pace that has been characteristic of just about every game in this series, and there were plenty of big hits on both sides. Colorado definitely missed the services of veteran scorer Milan Hejduk, who remains sidelined with a head injury sustained in a collision with teammate Paul Stastny last game.
In overtime, it took over ten minutes of play to find a winner, and both Anderson and Nabokov continued their great play in the extra frame. Joe Pavelski ended up getting the winner, wiring a wrist shot through traffic that Anderson probably didn’t even see until it was in the back of the net.
In a game that, compared to the other contests, the Avalanche probably played some of their best hockey yet, it’s tough to come away with a loss, but they won’t be able to sit and regret their loss for long, as they’ll have to try and get a win on the road in Game 5 at San Jose on Thursday.