SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan refused to dwell on any negatives that came out of a wild finish. Joe Pavelski scored with just under 20 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau tallied in the shootout, lifting the San Jose Sharks to a 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night. "Pav has been a real clutch player over the past two weeks for us, hes kind of the go-to guy right now, he seems to be getting it done," McLelland said. "He did it again tonight for us. Were happy for him and for us." Erik Johnson and Jamie McGinn scored goals 12 seconds apart in the final two minutes to put the Avalanche ahead. Asked about Niemi giving up the two quick goals, McLellan responded, "You know what, its Christmas. Lets all go home and enjoy it, and Ill answer those questions when we come back." Johnsons extra-man goal slipped under the left shoulder of Sharks goalie Antti Niemi to knot things, and McGinns goal also came with an extra skater as he beat Niemi to the stick side. "It was a high to tie it, a high to go ahead and then a crashing low when they tied it," Johnson said. "It was a strange game probably from the perspective of both teams. A very strange game at the end." Pavelski tied it after taking a pass from Joe Thornton, who has an 11-game point streak against the Avalanche. Matt Irwin scored a power-play goal late in the second period to put the Sharks ahead 3-2 and set up the wild finish. "We all knew we had about a minute and whatever left to get the tying goal," Irwin said. "The leadership group did a great job. They got out there and they capitalized. Joe made a great play to Joe. Thats what those guys do." Jason Demers and Brent Burns also scored for the Sharks, who have won four of six. "It was a crazy ending," Burns said. "Im sure coaches dont like seeing that too often. I think we get angry a little bit, but as a group I think were pretty confident and it was just a matter of who was going to step up and get that next goal." Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog also scored for the Avalanche, who lost for the third time in four games. Niemi made 29 saves to record his 19th victory and improve to 7-1-3 against Colorado. Semyon Varlamov stopped 41 shots to lose for the fourth time in eight games against the Sharks. "Its too bad, but at the same time we showed a lot of character," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said. "We played well in the third period. We scored two big goals and then they made a great play to tie it." In the first of four meetings between the teams, two fights in the first nine minutes set the stage for a physical game. MacKinnons power-play goal midway through the first period gave the Avalanche the early lead. Ryan OReillys pass set up MacKinnons goal, a shot that beat Niemi to the glove side. Demers scored his second goal in two games, beating Varlamov over the right shoulder and tying the game at 1-1 with six minutes left in the first period. Landeskog scored his first goal in 11 games in the final minute to put Colorado ahead 2-1 after one period. Burns scored after taking a drop pass from Thornton six minutes into the second period to make it 2-2. NOTES: Sharks rookie F Tomas Hertl will undergo knee surgery sometime this week, the injury a result of a knee-on-knee collision with Los Angeles Kings Dustin Brown. "Its going to be longer than a month," Sharks GM Doug Wilson said. Hertl will also miss playing in the Olympics with the Czech Republic. . Avalanche D Jan Hejda played in his 500th career game. . Avalanche D Tyson Barrie had his career-high four-game point streak snapped. . Thornton has 49 points in 40 games against Colorado. Marshaw... Lynch Jersey . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. 12th Fan Super Bowl Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http:/... . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. [url=http://www.nflseahawksfans.com/super-bowl-50-jon-ryan-jersey/]Jon Ryan Jersey . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Kev... Pierre-Louis Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up.METAIRIE, La. - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. "Listen, I get compensated very well. I dont take that for granted for one second," Brees said Monday, referring to the five-year, $100 million deal he signed in 2012. "But I play this game because I love this game, I love this locker room and I love the opportunity to win a championship. "If they want to come to me and extend me even further, thatd be great," Brees said. "Whatever helps this team win and puts the best team on the field." With Sean Payton returning from his bounty suspension, the Saints improved their regular-season record from 7-9 to 11-5, then won the franchises first road playoff game in six tries, beating the Eagles in Philadelphia in the wild card round before falling at top-seeded Seattle, 23-15 on Saturday. Brees eclipsed 5,000 yards passing for a third straight season to go with 39 touchdowns. Meanwhile, New Orleans defence went from worst in the league a year ago to fourth in total defence under first-year co-ordinator Rob Ryan. And that improvement came despite a rash of injuries. All in all, it looks as if the Saints arent far off from Super Bowl contention — if they can find the salary cap space to keep some top free agents such as tight end Jimmy Graham, who led New Orleans with 1,215 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. Brees contract calls for him to have a base salary of $10.75 million next season, which along with his pro-rated $37 million signing bonus will put his 2014 salary cap figure above $18 million. Graham has said his preference would be to remain with Brees in New Orleans. The Saints can secure Graham for at least another year by placing the franchise tag on the four-year veteran, but players and teams generally prefer to avoid that route and seek long-term extensions instead. Other starters entering free agency include free safety Malcolm Jenkins, right tackle Zach Strief and centre Brian de la Puente. Strief, who has spent his entire eight-year career in New Orleans, said he wants to be back, but would clean his locker out entirely for the first time, knowing the Saints might not match other offers in what he views as his last, best chance to sign a new contract.dddddddddddd "Obviously this organizations been a big part of my life and I feel like Ive been part of the success here and you dont want to leave that," Strief said. "The reality of the situation is I think theres going to be other possible outcomes, and theres other teams, possibly, and you prepare for that — not because its what you want but because its the reality." Jenkins, a five-year veteran, said he, too, wants to return, but understands "it doesnt always work out that way." Still, he emphasized he was proud to be part of a defence that made enormous progress this season. "Theres not a group of guys that Id rather play with," Jenkins said. "Weve come a long way, obviously night and day from last year." One problem for New Orleans is that its existing contracts would likely place the club more than $10 million above the 2014 salary cap, which has not yet been set, but is expected to be in the range of $125 million. One way teams seek salary cap relief is by renegotiating with, or releasing, veteran players with the largest base salaries. In New Orleans case, those players could include outside linebacker Will Smith, left guard Ben Grubbs, cornerback Jabari Greer, defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, safety Roman Harper and receiver Lance Moore. Smith spent the season on injured reserve after tearing a knee ligament in the preseason. Greer had season-ending torn ligaments in his knee in November. Yet the injuries also provided opportunities for younger players, many of whom demonstrated significant growth and will remain under contracts less burdensome to the club. Those included rookie left tackle Terron Armstead, who took over as starter in Week 16, second-year defensive end Akiem Hicks, fourth-year outside linebacker Junior Galette, as well as rookie receiver Kenny Stills and rookie running back Khiry Robinson. Payton refused to address potential personnel moves, but confidently brushed aside questions about New Orleans impending salary cap constraints. "Were going to be in good shape," Payton said. "Obviously when theres change from season to season, theres attrition. Theres the younger players that are coming in and the players eventually that have been here that are no longer on the team. I think thats pretty normal, and well be ready for the challenge." cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '