Colorado (26-21-3) at San Jose (25-18-4)
When: Tuesday, January 26th 2016
Where: SAP Center, San Jose, CA
Time: 10:05 ET | TV: NBC Sports
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The Colorado Avalanche look for their season-high fifth win in a row when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Colorado started off their current three-game road trip with a 3-1 win in Dallas on Saturday thanks to two short-handed goals by Carl Soderberg and Gabriel Landeskog. Goalie Semyon Varlamov did the rest with his 42 save performance and was named the NHL’s first-star for last week. Varlamov won all four of his starts and surrendered just one goal in each of them, but Calvin Pickard will get the start tonight in San Jose. Pickard played well in back-to-back starts on January 14th and 16th, blanking New Jersey for his first career shutout and dropping a 2-1 decision to Columbus. Right winger Jack Skille (7 goals, 5 assists) had to exit Saturday’s win over Dallas with a back injury after crashing hard into the boards, but is expected to play Tuesday, coach Patrick Roy said at Monday’s practice. Colorado won at San Jose 6-3 on December 28th and center Nathan MacKinnon recorded a hat trick.
San Jose comes in with the worst home record in the Western Conference, but they are currently riding a six-game point streak (4-0-2) at the SAP Center and a nine-game point streak overall (7-0-2). The Sharks suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to Los Angeles on Sunday night after letting in the game-tying goal with just 12.2 seconds remaining in regulation. Veteran Joe Thornton has seen a resurgence in his game ever since Tomas Hertl joined his line. Thornton has two goals and 10 assists during a nine-game point streak and has collected at least one point in 17 of his last 18 games. He also needs just two points to become the 33rd player in history – and second with the franchise – to reach 1,300 for his career. Thornton has 14 goals and 54 points in 47 games against the Avalanche. The Sharks currently own the 4th seed in the Western Conference and are nine points out of the third spot, but just two points from dropping completely out.
Colorado has won four straight, but they’re still having trouble scoring and are 1 for their last 18 on the power play. San Jose should be able to get through on Pickard tonight and come away with a victory.
Fantasy Picks for Tonight: Brent Burns, Carl Soderberg
Pick: Sharks -1.5 +175
