DENVER -- Pavel Buchnevich scored the go-ahead goal at 8:54 of the third period, and the St. Louis Blues won their ninth straight game, 2-1 against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Saturday.

Kovalenko is one of three pending RFA forwards on the Sharks roster, with Klim Kostin and Gregor also in contract years. Carl Grundstrom is signed through next season, but, starting on Jan. 11, has appeared in just 10 of 20 games, while being scratched the other nights.

Cale Makar scored 34 seconds into overtime and Colorado recovered after squandering a late two-goal lead to win 4-3 over the Dallas Stars in the return of former Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen.

Brock Nelson scored two goals while Nathan MacKinnon and Joel Kiviranta each added a tally to help the Avalanche defeat the Ottawa Senators 5-1 at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday. Cale Makar, Jonathan Drouin and Ross Colton each recorded two points while Scott Wedgewood stopped 15 of the 16 shots he faced in net for Colorado.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates after a goal against the Ottawa Senators with teammates left wing Jonathan Drouin, center, and defenseman Cale Makar, le during first ...