The Colorado Avalanche staged a dramatic third-period comeback to defeat the San Jose Sharks 4-2 at SAP Center on December 19, 2024, marking their 11th consecutive victory over the Sharks, the longest streak against any opponent in franchise history.
Joel Kiviranta proved to be the hero for Colorado, scoring twice late in the game to turn the tide. With 6:54 remaining, Kiviranta netted the go-ahead goal, leading the Avalanche to victory. Cale Makar highlighted the importance of depth scoring, stating, "When you get depth scoring, you’re going to win those games. It’s key to just winning throughout the year, to being consistent."
The matchup was particularly interesting as it featured goaltenders who were recently traded for each other. Mackenzie Blackwood, now the starting goaltender for Colorado, made 32 saves against his former team, and showed his prowess early on to keep the Avalanche within reach. Kiviranta’s first goal came right after the Avalanche successfully killed off back-to-back penalties, taking advantage of the Sharks’ defensive lapse.
Valeri Nichushkin opened the scoring for Colorado at 3:40 of the first period, but San Jose responded with impressive resilience. After falling behind early, the Sharks rallied, with Carl Grundstrom and William Eklund scoring to give them the advantage, showcasing their young talent. Eklund’s goal was particularly notable as he intercepted a pass from Nathan MacKinnon before firing the puck past Blackwood.
Despite entering the third period with a 2-1 lead, the Sharks faced the unfortunate pattern of late-game collapses. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky expressed the team’s frustrations post-game, stating, "They make a couple plays, we don't make a couple plays, and it’s in the back of our net. And that's the difference of the hockey game." The Sharks became the first team in NHL history to lose three consecutive games at home after leading going to the third period.
The third period was marked by the Avalanche's power play dominance, with Mikko Rantanen tying the game shortly after the start of the period with his 19th goal of the season, facilitated by assists from MacKinnon and Makar. Kiviranta then seized the momentum, scoring his first goal at 13:06, taking advantage of the Sharks’ mistakes. His second came just minutes later at 15:58, giving the Avalanche some breathing room.
Blackwood's return to San Jose was met with applause, and he acknowledged his time with the Sharks: "It's great. I really enjoyed my time here. I made a lot of great friends, and I'll always be grateful for it." This adds layers to the rivalry, particularly as both teams now look to improve as the season progresses.
The Sharks have shown glimpses of their potential, led by rookie sensations like Macklin Celebrini. Still, the team's failure to close out games has continued to plague them. The Sharks will need to address their late-game strategies as they prepare to face the Edmonton Oilers next.
The Avalanche, buoyed by this victory, look to maintain their momentum as they head to Anaheim, striving for consistent performances to bolster their standings.
