Sharks' Joe Pavelski Returns from Head Injury for Game 7 vs. Avalanche
May 8, 2019
San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) skates during warmups before Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series between the Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
The San Jose Sharks announced the return of captain Joe Pavelski to the lineup just before their Western Conference Semifinal Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.
The 34-year-old center made his own announcement regarding his return when he put the Sharks up 1-0 at the 14:03 mark in the first period. Pavelski also assisted on Tomas Hertl's goal just under six minutes later.
Pavelski had not taken the ice since he suffered a gruesome concussion during Game 7 of the Sharks' first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on April 23. In the aftermath of a faceoff, Pavelski hit his head on the ice after Cody Eakin cross-checked him.
According to the Associated Press(h/t Spectrum News), Pavelski required eight staples in his head.
The Game 7 in which Pavelski went down resulted in the Sharks coming back from 3-0 down in the third period to eventually oust the Golden Knights in overtime. That historic performance was at home, in the "Shark Tank," as is Wednesday night's contest.
At home this postseason, the Sharks are 5-2.
Pavelski quickly provided a welcomed reinforcement between the blue lines. However, he had been aiding his squad from the sideline during his recovery.
"He's a great resource for me on everything—line combinations, lineups," San Jose head coach Peter DeBoer said on April 29, according to the Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka. "He has a great perspective and a different perspective than us as a staff."
The winner will take on the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Final.
NHL Playoff Bracket 2019: Game Time, TV Info and Preview for Wednesday
May 8, 2019
San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier, right, struggles to control the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson covers in the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Monday, May 6, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
We've got one game left to go before we can say we're officially into the NHL conference finals.
On Tuesday night, the St. Louis Blues put away the Dallas Stars in a thrilling double-overtime nailbiter to advance to the Western Conference Finals. They're eager to find out who their opponent will be but will need to wait until late Wednesday night to do so.
The Blues will take on the winner of Game 7 between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, hosted by the latter. The Sharks had multiple opportunities to take control of this series. They could have gone ahead 3-1 in Game 4 but missed the chance in a shutout.
After letting the Avs hang around, the Sharks find themselves with their backs against the wall.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins are set to meet the Carolina Hurricanes, with Game 1 set for Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Let's take a look at everything you need to know to tune into tonight's Game 7, as well as preview what both the Sharks and Avs will have to do to keep their hopes of hoisting the Cup alive.
NHL Playoffs: Wednesday Game Info
Colorado Avalanche at San Jose Sharks Game 7 (series tied 3-3)
It might not be immediately obvious from the results of each game, but the Sharks have actually been improving over the course of their six-game series with the Avalanche.
Since Game 2, the Sharks have outperformed the Avalanche's top line in almost every category: attempts (56-50), shots (31-26), chances (33-29) and, crucially, scoring (4-2).
Of course, that doesn't mean this will be a cakewalk for San Jose. Far from it.
When the Sharks are playing their top line of Logan Couture, Timo Meier and Gustav Nyquist, they produce across the board: attempts, shots, chances and expected goals.
However, the Avalanche have outperformed the Sharks' other three lines in at least one of those areas, which is a recipe for a loss if we've ever seen one.
To boot, the Avalanche have been getting excellent production outside their top line of Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, not to mention the chances those three have been creating—simply look to Landeskog's overtime game-winner in Game 6.
Third-line left wing J.T. Compher was all over the place in Game 6, assisting on or scoring three goals himself.
Ultimately, this game could come down to the Sharks' Joe Pavelski, who is a game-time decision for Wednesday's clincher.
Pavelski suffered a head injury in Game 7 against the Vegas Golden Knights, but his return tonight could provide a spark to a Sharks team that has suffered too many playoff exits in recent years.
It's not just an emotional boost that Pavelski could provide, either. The Sharks' power play has gone a dreadful 2-for-17 in this series. Getting one of their strongest players on the power play back is a true X-factor for the Sharks.
The Avalanche haven't appeared in the conference finals since the 2001-02 season. Meanwhile, the Sharks are looking to make their first conference finals since losing in the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.
Joe Thornton, Sharks Take 1-0 Series Lead vs. Avalanche with 5-2 Win in Game 1
Apr 27, 2019
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 26: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks is congratulated by Marcus Sorensen #20 after Thornton scored a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 26, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images )
The San Jose Sharks drew first blood against the Colorado Avalanche in their Stanley Cup playoff second-round series, earning a 5-2 win at SAP Center in San Jose on Friday.
The Sharks broke open the game in the second period.
Colorado briefly led 2-1 thanks to a goal by Colin Wilson 3:56 into the period. San Jose responded with three unanswered goals from Joe Thornton, Kevin Labanc and Brent Burns to go ahead 4-2 heading into the final frame. All three goals came in the final 10 minutes of the period.
San Jose was riding such an emotional high coming out of the first round, and it was fair to wonder whether the Sharks would be a bit sluggish out of the gates as they reset for a fresh series. They also had to battle the physical effects of going the full seven games against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Colorado, on the other hand, had an entire week off after eliminating the Calgary Flames in five games.
As expected, the Avalanche were the better team to start the game, and head coach Jared Bednar might rue the fact that his squad couldn't score more than once in the opening 20 minutes.
In addition, Brenden Dillon received a four-minute double-minor for a high stick on J.T. Compher shortly after Colin Wilson's power-play tally. That presented the Avs with a golden opportunity to take the home fans out of the game with another goal or two. Instead, San Jose killed the penalty.
What do you know, you *can* kill off four straight minutes of power play time!
Thornton tied the game at the 10:05 mark, and then Labanc gave the Sharks their first lead of the game with a dazzling individual effort. Labanc nutmegged Mikko Rantanen and then fired a wrist shot past the glove side of Philipp Grubauer.
Sharks have the swag of a team that scored 4 goals in 4 minutes of Game 7 right now… especially Labanc, who scored the fourth back then and the go-ahead third tonight
Brent Burns scored San Jose's fourth goal with one minute remaining in the period, capping off an excellent performance. He finished with one goal and three assists.
The Avalanche won't panic after dropping Game 1. They fell 4-0 to the Flames in Game 1 of the first round before reeling off four straight wins.
Having said that, Grubauer wasn't great after he was one of Colorado's best players against Calgary. He looked more like the goaltender who finished20thin goals-against average (2.64) andtied for 13thin save percentage (.917).
Grubauer will have to be much better against the Sharks' high-powered attack for the Avalanche to pull off another upset.
What's Next?
The teams return to the ice in San Jose on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Sharks will be keen to go up 2-0 in the series and avoid ceding home-ice advantage to the Avs.
Sharks' Joe Thornton Suspended 1 Game for Checking Tomas Nosek in the Head
Apr 15, 2019
San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton (19) skates on the ice against the Calgary Flames in the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, March 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
During the second period, Thornton leaned his left shoulder into Nosek's head. In the video explaining Thornton's suspension, the NHL Department of Player Safety said Nosek's head was the "main point of contact" and that the Sharks star could've avoided the hit.
"I honestly thought I barely touched him," Thornton said of the hit, per theMercury News'Curtis Pashelka. "He just came right back; it was just one of those plays that it is what it is. I think my son hits me like that six times a day, it's just a weird position to put himself in. That's all."
Thornton received a two-minute minor for an illegal check. Nosek left the game and returned a little over a minute into the third period.
Some thought Thornton got off a bit easy with his in-game punishment.
Speaking to reporters, Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves called the hit "gutless" and unloaded with a verbal dig on the 39-year-old Thornton.
"I got a buddy with a grandpa who's going through the same thing," Reaves said, perJesse Grangerof The Athletic. "Can't really see very well cuz he's getting old. Get some glasses. If he gets suspended it'll be hard for him to see up top."
Thornton has registered one point in each of the Sharks' three games against the Golden Knights so far. Head coach Peter DeBoer will have to account for his absence when San Jose returns to the ice for Tuesday's Game 4 in Las Vegas.
Video: Sharks' Joe Pavelski Loses Teeth After Scoring a Goal off of His Face
Apr 11, 2019
San Jose Sharks' Joe Pavelski (8) reacts after scoring a goal against Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, right, during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 10, 2019, in San Jose, Calif. At left is Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski may have taken the idea of putting it all on the line in the Stanley Cup playoffs too literally during Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Pavelski opened the scoring in Game 1 at the SAP Center in California with a goal off his face.
Brent Burns' shot deflected off his jaw and into the net, and Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com noted Pavelski lost multiple teeth as a result:
Here's a thing that happened: Joe Pavelski scored a goal off his face!
"Yeah, I suppose," he said when asked if that was the most painful goal he's scored in his career. "It didn't feel good."
Wyshynski noted he entered the NHL's concussion protocol but was cleared to play by the early second period after receiving some stitches.
Ideally for Pavelski, his team can capitalize on home-ice advantage again in Friday's Game 2 without him having to sacrifice any body parts.
Gustav Nyquist Traded to Sharks; Red Wings Receive 2019, 2020 NHL Draft Picks
Feb 25, 2019
Detroit Red Wings right wing Gustav Nyquist skates against the San Jose Sharks in the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Red Wings announced they traded right-winger Gustav Nyquist to San Jose in exchange for a 2019 second-round draft pick and 2020 conditional third-round draft pick. John Shannon of Sportsnet noted Nyquist waived his no-trade clause to facilitate his move to the Sharks.
Nyquist scored a goal in the loss to the Sharks and had 48 points on 15 goals and 33 assists in his first 61 games of the season for Detroit. He is a consistent playmaker in the offensive zone and has tallied 40 or more points in each of the last six seasons.
He is a free agent following this season, so it made sense for the struggling Red Wings to trade him before potentially losing him to the open market without a return. Only the Ottawa Senators (49 points) have fewer points in the Eastern Conference than Detroit's 55.
As for the Sharks, they are in second place in the Pacific Division with 82 points and primed for a potential playoff run in the Western Conference. They are third in the league in goals per game (3.62), and Nyquist gives them someone who figures to only bolster those totals.
Not only was San Jose able to land an impact player like Nyquist without giving up a first-round pick, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic noted the Red Wings will retain 30 percent of his salary.
He could make his debut for San Jose on Tuesday when it takes on the Boston Bruins.
