BRONCOS WIN OVERTIME THRILLER, PLAYOFF BOUND
DENVER (AP) – The Denver Broncos are headed to the playoffs with last night’s 20-17 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Denver can earn the top seed in the AFC with a win over San Diego and a loss by New England at Miami next weekend.
DENVER (AP) – Last night’s contest in Denver ties for the third-coldest home game in Broncos history. The temperature at kickoff Monday night was 16 degrees. The chilliest contest in Denver was 9 degrees on Dec 10, 1972, when the Broncos played San Diego. Fans dressed in plenty of layers, with many wrapped tightly in blankets.
AVS STAY HOT, BEAT SHARKS
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – Nathan MacKinnon scored twice on power plays and added an empty-net goal, Carl Soderberg and Blake Comeau also scored on power plays and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Sharks 6-3 on Monday night to end a 13-game losing streak in San Jose. Matt Duchene also scored, and the Avalanche won their fourth straight on the road to improve to 6-1-1 over their last eight games. Patrick Marleau, Melker Karlsson and Tomas Hertl scored for the Sharks. San Jose owns the worst home record in the league at 4-10 and has lost four straight at home and seven of eight. Colorado’s Calvin Pickard stopped 35 shots for his first decision of the season and his first win in over a year. Martin Jones saved 20 of 25 for the Sharks.