Roy, Blake Help Fend Off Sharks

Patrick Roy stopped 22 shots and Rob Blake had two assists to lead the Colorado Avalanche over the San Jose Sharks, 3-1, Saturday night.

Radim Vrbata, Chris Drury and Martin Skoula scored for Colorado, and Blake assisted on Colorado’s two power-play goals. The Stanley Cup champion Avalanche killed San Jose’s seven power-play opportunities and beat the Sharks for the first time in three tries this season.

Four days after Evgeni Nabokov stopped 38 shots in a masterful shutout win over the Avalanche at Denver, Roy returned the favor with an impressive performance, although he couldn’t hold on for what would have been his 60th career shutout.

Patrick Marleau’s goal with 12:25 to play denied Roy of his eighth shutout this season. Roy already has matched the highest season shutout total of his career while posting a goals-against average lower than any in his career.

After getting shut out by Nabokov in each of their previous meetings with the Sharks this season, the Avalanche jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second period.

Nabokov stopped 24 shots, but Colorado’s defense gave almost no openings to the Sharks, who have scored only seven goals in their last four games.

The Avalanche took sole possession of first place in the Northwest Division.

San Jose had few scoring chances in the first two periods against Blake and the Avalanche’s solid team play, although Roy nearly gave up a goal in the second period when he was slow back to his crease. Marleau got a pass in front but missed with the shot.