Avalanche Fights Off Elimination

Joe Sakic and David Aebischer kept Colorado’s hopes alive.

Sakic flipped a wrist shot past Evgeni Nabokov 5:15 into overtime and Aebischer stopped 27 shots for his first playoff shutout, helping the Avalanche avoid a sweep with a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night at Denver.

Sakic ended Colorado’s scoreless streak against Nabokov at 178 minutes 14 seconds by lifting a shot just inside the left post and crossbar from the slot after San Jose’s Mike Rathje couldn’t handle a puck out of the corner.

The Avalanche still has hope that it can become the third NHL team to rally from a 3-0 deficit and win a series.

Game 5 is Saturday in San Jose where the Sharks won the first two games by a combined score of 9-3.

Colorado went on a power play with 1:14 left in regulation, when Alexander Korolyuk received a four-minute penalty for high-sticking Teemu Selanne. The Avalanche, however, was unable to score and the missed opportunity seemed to have killed its chances. But Sakic made up for it with the Avalanche’s first goal since Milan Hejduk scored at 7:01 of the first period of Game 2.

Nabokov was superb again, stopping 35 shots, but couldn’t recover fast enough after Rathje’s mishandle.

Toronto 4, Philadelphia 1 -- Alexander Mogilny’s goal was spectacular and his physical play surprising.

Mogilny’s breakaway goal in Game 3 at Toronto led to a three-goal second period for the Maple Leafs, who cut the Flyers’ lead to 2-1 in the series.

Alexei Ponikarovsky, Chad Kilger and Darcy Tucker also scored for the Maple Leafs, but it was Mogilny who got all the credit.

“Here’s a man that I’ve watched for a long time, and he’s capable of a lot of things,” Toronto Coach Pat Quinn said. “He can do most things in this game and do them well, including play physical.

“I have a lot of respect for him as an individual, as a team player and as a guy that leads.”

Mogilny delivered several big hits, including one on Danny Markov in the first period that forced the Flyer defenseman to limp off the ice.

Mogilny’s physical play spurred a shoving match in the third period with Jeremy Roenick that led to both earning roughing penalties.

Mogilny shrugged it all off, referring to it as being “playoff hockey.”

But he did note the significance of Toronto’s victory.

“It’s big,” Mogilny said. “What do you think? We come home down 2-0. We lose this game, it’s pretty much over.”