Joe Pavelski galvanizes Sharks fans late in Game 5 vs. Avalanche

Matt Hornick

Joe Pavelski galvanizes Sharks fans late in Game 5 vs. Avalanche image

Sharks captain Joe Pavelski was able to make an impact on his team Saturday despite missing a fifth straight game because of an injury.

Pavelski, who had remained mostly unseen to the public since suffering a serious head injury in Game 7 of San Jose's first-round series with Vegas, was shown standing outside the tunnel waving a towel to excite the home crowd late in the third period of the Sharks' 2-1 victory over the Avalanche in Game 5 of their second-round series.

Pavelski made his appearance shortly after Tomas Hertl scored the eventual game-winning goal. San Jose is now one win away from advancing to the Western Conference finals. 

The 3-2 series lead should allow the Sharks to continue to rest Pavelski, whom head coach Peter DeBoer described as "getting better every day."

 

Matt Hornick