The San Jose Sharks hosted a rare matinee contest on Saturday afternoon as the Minnesota Wild came to town, and what a game this turned out to be. A back-and-forth affair appeared headed to overtime as the two teams were deadlocked at three, but captain clutch for San Jose assumed the spotlight.
Following a Joe Thornton faceoff win, Joe Pavelski snapped home his 23rd goal of the season, and third point of the afternoon, with just 1:24 remaining to give the Sharks a big 4-3 victory. What a goal by Pavelski who continues to answer the bell every time a big moment arises for San Jose.
The goal was Pavelski’s eighth game-winner of the season which leads the entire NHL. Thornton, who picked up two assists in this one, now sits alone in 16th place on the all-time assists list with 930 for his career.
With the early puck drop, sometimes it takes the Sharks a while to get into the flow of the game, but that wasn’t the case in this one. San Jose’s top line would apply pressure as Tomas Hertl picked up the puck behind the net and wrapped it in off Minnesota netminder Darcy Kuemper for his ninth goal of the season.
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Since being moved to the top line, Hertl has been a different player recording his third goal in the past four games to get the Sharks off and running.
Unfortunately, the Wild would respond as Chris Porter would get in behind Brenden Dillon and Dylan DeMelo and deposit a rebound for his third goal of the season, and one the Sharks needed to defend better off the faceoff.
Minnesota would get a late power play opportunity in the first as Joel Ward went off for tripping, and it was Charlie Coyle, the former first round selection of the Sharks, who would make them pay. Coyle found a loose puck after Jared Spurgeon’s point shot hit the post and buried it past Martin Jones for his 12th of the season and a 2-1 Wild lead after 20 minutes of play.
San Jose wouldn’t be discouraged by the late tally as they took the play to Minnesota in the second, outshooting the Wild by a 14-8 margin. The Sharks would even things up on their third power play chance of the afternoon as Ward atoned for his penalty by sending a perfect cross-seam pass to Joonas Donskoi who one-timed it past Kuemper for his seventh goal of the year.
That pass and finish. 👌 pic.twitter.com/mwduhIzNxB
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 23, 2016
Then, San Jose would take advantage of a fortunate bounce as Minnesota would hit the post at one end which helped spring a Sharks odd-man attack. After Donskoi barely missed his second goal of the night, Ward would score his 14th of the season as San Jose’s quick strike offense was in full force.
The two goals came just 1:38 apart and would allow the Sharks to take a one-goal lead into the locker room.
Just like the first 40 minutes, the third period was a battle as chances were coming for each team. Minnesota tied things up at three when Jarret Stoll scored his third of the season when Jones couldn’t control a rebound that hit him around the neck area.
From that moment, it appeared the SAP faithful would see their fourth straight game that headed to overtime, but Pavelski ensured the extra time wouldn’t be needed.
It’s just another example of why he’s perfect leader for this group as he steps up time and again, no matter the situation. Also, Pavelski’s teammates have joined him in stepping up their games of late as the entire Sharks are rolling right now.
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San Jose won’t have long to dwell on this big victory as they welcome the Pacific Division leading Los Angeles Kings to town tomorrow night. The Sharks will look to cut into the Kings perch atop the division and extend San Jose’s point streak to nine games.