Denver, CO (Best E Casino) - Milan Michalek and Devin Setoguchi each scored two goals, as the San Jose Sharks topped the Colorado Avalanche, 5-3, at the Pepsi Center.

Ryane Clowe also lit the lamp for the Sharks, who have won four straight and, at 10-2-0, are off to their best start in franchise history. Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton both recorded two assists, while Evgeni Nabokov made 33 saves.

Milan Hejduk registered a goal and an assist for Colorado, which has lost three straight after a five-game winning streak. Peter Budaj allowed five goals on 29 shots.

"They are the best team in the league right now," Budaj said of the Sharks, who lead the Western Conference with 20 points. "We battled and we competed, but unfortunately they got those two rebounds in the third."

Hejduk pulled Colorado within 3-2 at the 1:30 mark of the third period. Wojtek Wolski's one-timer from the left circle trickled between the pads of Nabokov and was cleared by a San Jose defender right to the skilled Czech and he deposited the puck in the back of the net.

Michalek restored a two-goal advantage for the visiting club at 5:44. Budaj managed to stopped Jonathan Cheechoo's shot, but Michalek worked his way to the front of the net and slipped the rebound through the netminder's legs.

John-Michael Liles answered for the Avalanche as he snapped a shot from inside the left circle that beat a screened Nabokov on the short side with 6:19 remaining.

Clowe's rebound tally with 1:44 to go in regulation sealed the win for San Jose.

Michalek accepted a cross-ice pass from Joe Pavelski and buried a slap shot from the left circle over the right shoulder of Budaj to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead 7:02 into the contest.

San Jose found the back of the net again two minutes later. Christian Ehrhoff skated down the right side and slid a pass through the crease to Thornton, whose shot hit the Avalanche goaltender. Setoguchi then tucked in the rebound past a fallen Budaj.

Jordan Leopold put the Avalanche on the board with 5:36 remaining in the first period, uncoiling a blistering slap shot from the right point that changed direction and ended up behind a stunned Nabokov.

Setoguchi made it 3-1 with 7:17 to play in the middle stanza. Marleau forced Scott Hannan to turn the puck over deep in the Avalanche zone. Marleau's backhand feed from below the right circle went off of a sliding Ruslan Salei in the slot. Thornton then corralled the bouncing puck and quickly dished to Setoguchi, who did not miss from in close.

Game Notes

Colorado finished 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Sharks were 0- for-2...Clowe has five goals in the last six games.