LOS ANGELES –- The league leader in game-winning goals in the regular season came through with another one in the Sharks’ first game of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Joe Pavelski wrapped in his second score of the night just 17 seconds into the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie and putting San Jose ahead to stay in a 4-3 win at Staples Center on Thursday night.
The Sharks’ captain held off Anze Kopitar behind the net before curling the puck through Jonathan Quick. Pavelski led the NHL with 11 game-winning goals.
The Sharks are 10-6 all-time when winning the first game of a playoff series, improving to 17-15 all-time in a Game 1.