Patrick Marleau's 4 goals in 3 periods lift Sharks past Avalanche

DENVER - Patrick Marleau scored four goals in the third period and the San Jose Sharks beat the last-place Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Monday night for their fifth consecutive win.

Marleau scored in a variety of ways to break open a game tied at 1 heading into the third: He tipped a shot in off the post, scored on a wraparound, lined in a wrist shot and finally lifted a backhander over rookie goaltender Spencer Martin.

Brent Burns had a goal and two assists as the two teams concluded their home-and-home set. The Sharks beat the Avalanche 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.

Jarome Iginla and Andreas Martinsen scored for Colorado, which fell to 1-10-1 over its past 12 games.

Matt Duchene, the team’s leading goal scorer, was a late scratch due to an illness and left the Avalanche with only 19 players. Duchene’s absence raised some eyebrows since the talented forward has been the subject of recent trade rumors.

Martin Jones stopped 26 shots for the Sharks.

Marleau took over early in the third period when he scored twice in a 3:04 span. He was just getting warmed up as Colorado had no answer for No. 12.

The Avs have been outscored by a 54-27 margin in the third period.

Iginla’s goal was his first since Dec. 27 and tied the game at 1 midway through the second period. He now has 617 career NHL goals, which moves him eight away from tying Avalanche Hall of Famer turned team executive Joe Sakic for 15th place on the career list.

Burns gave the Sharks a 1-0 advantage with 59.8 seconds remaining in the first period when he lined a wrist shot past Martin.

It was Burns’ 20th goal of the season.

Until Burns’ blast, Martin was off to a torrid start in just his second NHL game. Martin made his debut Saturday by turning back 27 shots against the Sharks.

NOTES

San Jose center Logan Couture and Vlasic each had two assists.

The Sharks scratched center Ryan Carpenter, right winger Barclay Goodrow and defenseman Tim Heed.

Avalanche D Tyson Barrie and F Rene Bourque missed the game with lower-body injuries.

The Sharks play their next game tonight at Winnipeg.