Kings Vs. Sharks: Joe Pavelski’s Winner Gives San Jose Big Time Momentum

Joe Pavelski got the game-winning goal at 14:44 of overtime, getting yet another big goal in his career, as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings in the first ever playoff-edition of the Battle of California. San Jose won Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series, 3-2. The Sharks scored on both their first and last shifts of the game.

Ryan Clowe led San Jose in scoring, assisting on all three of the San Jose goals, going to the net on the game-winner by Pavelski to help set up the screen. Dany Heatley scored a goal at :28 seconds, and it appeared San Jose was off and running. Give the Kings credit though, they proved that they are capable of making noise in this series, and came so close to getting this Game 1 so many times.

The big factor in the game for Los Angeles was their goaltender, Jonathan Quick, who has quietly developed into an excellent number one man. Quick made 42 saves, many of them spectacular. Antii Niemi got the win for San Jose, making 33 saves of his own, and not looking shabby himself. The third period and overtime weren’t exactly defensive struggles, but saw both team’s defenses come up big right before a shot was about to be taken, or at least force it to a bad angle.

Pavelski’s winner was the third of his career, and avoids what could’ve been a huge momentum shift to Los Angeles’ side. Often, overtime winners project which team will come out best in Game 2. Can you imagine a Kings team with a Game 1 winner in overtime? That would have been a dangerous prospect for the Sharks to face. They will still likely face a tough challenge in Game 2, but because of Pavelski, they can breathe a bit easier.