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DENVER (Ticker) -- The Colorado Avalanche relied on their captain to keep alive their season.

Joe Sakic scored off a turnover 5:15 into overtime as the Avalanche avoided elimination with a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks .

Trailing its Western Conference semifinal series three games to none, Colorado was in danger of being swept for the first time in a best-of-seven matchup since 1982, when - as the Quebec Nordiques - it lost four straight to the New York Islanders in the conference finals.

Goalless since the 7:01 mark of Game Two, the Avalanche had several chances in this one but could not solve Evgeni Nabokov in regulation. But the overtime period provided a golden opportunity for Colorado to extend the series.

After the Avalanche failed to cash in on a four-minute power play, Sharks defenseman Mike Rathje coughed up the puck in the right faceoff circle. From the slot, Sakic fired a shot between the pads of Nabokov, ending the goaltender's shutout streak at 178 minutes, 14 seconds and preventing San Jose from the first playoff sweep in club history.

"The puck bounced out in front and I hopped on it and tried to get it away as quick as possible," Sakic said. "Luckily, we finally got a bounce tonight."

"Joe got the puck and I was starting to come out and I didn't close my five-hole in time," Nabokov said.

David Aebischer was stellar for Colorado, stopping all 27 shots, including 13 in the first period, for his first career playoff shutout.

"Aebischer made some good saves," Sakic said. "Both goaltenders were unbelievable tonight."

"Aebischer played well tonight," Sharks right wing Todd Harvey said. "They got the bounce at the end and that's the way overtime goes."

The Sharks return home for their second chance to advance to the conference finals on Saturday.

"It's hockey. It happened and we have to regroup," Nabokov said. "We have to go home and reload and play the same game. I think if we play the same game at home, we beat them."

Both goalies did their best work in the opening period. After Aebischer stopped Nils Ekman from in front 2:20 into the game, Nabokov denied Dan Hinote 's breakaway chance at 8:09. Aebischer answered with a save on Alex Korolyuk 's shorthanded breakaway with 82 seconds to go.

A major force against Dallas in the conference quarterfinals, Marek Svatos nearly gave Colorado the lead just under six minutes into the third, but his shot hit the crossbar.

Wayne Primeau was stopped by Aebischer twice in a four-minute span midway through the period, and Nabokov again received help from the crossbar when Milan Hejduk lifted a shot that struck iron with six minutes remaining.

"For both teams, goals are tough to come by," said San Jose center Mike Ricci , a member of Colorado's 1996 Stanley Cup championship team. "We had some opportunities and we need to capitalize on them."

Former Shark Teemu Selanne was high-sticked by Korolyuk with 74 seconds left in the third, giving Colorado a four-minute man advantage. But Nabokov was up to the task, stopping all five shots the Avalanche recorded.

"We didn't stop believing," Selanne said. "We knew a goal was going to come sooner or later and usually, overtime goals are weird goals, and that's what happened tonight."