The forecast appeared promising for the Colorado Avalanche just before last night’s contest, looking ahead to a Wednesday-night game that could have put them up 3-1 in a best-of-seven series against the San Jose Sharks and celebrating the fact that former Av Joe Sakic was one of six Colorado athletes named to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (via 9News).

The buzz didn’t last long, though, with the Avalanche losing a heartbreaking 2-1 game at the Pepsi Center, evening the series to 2-2, as it shifts back to San Jose (game recap via Mile High Hockey).

The game featured stellar performances by both teams’ goalies, but San Jose’s Evgeni Nabakov was able to outlast Colorado’s Craig Anderson for the win. The Denver Post notes that Anderson was able to make 43 saves, but he was screened on the final shot, and San Jose’s Joe Pavelski successfully lifted the puck over Anderson’s glove side shoulder.

Three of the four games in this series have now gone to overtime, with neither team asserting itself and dominating the other.

“These wins aren’t coming easy for either side,” San Jose’s Dan Boyle tells NHL.com. “Both teams are fighting it.”

The series returns to San Jose’s HP Pavilion Thursday night.