A fellow named Pavlov used to ring a bell before feeding his
dogs dinner. Eventually the animals began to drool at the former in
anticipation of the latter. Unless ancestry.com knows something we
don’t, the Sharks’ Joe Pavelski has nothing in common with the
Russian physiologist save a ready-made nickname (Pavs). Still, you
wonder if he might be salivating in anticipation of the upcoming
NHL playoffs. The man of the hour seemingly every hour during the
Sharks’ 2010 postseason run says no.
A fellow named Pavlov used to ring a bell before feeding his dogs dinner. Eventually the animals began to drool at the former in anticipation of the latter.
Unless ancestry.com knows something we don’t, the Sharks’ Joe Pavelski has nothing in common with the Russian physiologist save a ready-made nickname (Pavs). Still, you wonder if he might be salivating in anticipation of the upcoming NHL playoffs.
The man of the hour seemingly every hour during the Sharks’ 2010 postseason run says no.
“It doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen again,” Pavelski said after practice Tuesday morning. “If you do something today, you have to go out and try to better it the next day.”
Here’s what happened last spring: Pavelski, the fifth-year second-line center, scored nine goals in the Sharks’ first eight postseason games, willing the team past Colorado and helping it vanquish old nemesis Detroit. Both he and the team suffered a blackout against the Chicago Blackhawks in the conference finals.
But the experience — he led the Sharks in goals, points, shots and plus/minus — was enough to inspire a new nickname (The Big Pavelski) and make you wonder what he has planned for an encore.
“I think I’m just excited because it’s the postseason,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll have some of the same kind of success.”
Using the scientific method to study Pavelski’s career, you discover he seems to win an inordinate number of championships and play awfully well in big games, whether they be important to the team, himself, or both.
Examples: He won championships in Squirts, high school, Juniors and college. He scored a goal in his first game with the Sharks’ Worcester AHL affiliate. Summoned to San Jose on short notice after injuries to Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek, he scored in his first NHL game.
He was no shrinking violet during his first three NHL postseasons with the Sharks, amassing 11 points in 25 games. That was just a scene-setter for last year.
The Sharks were 32 seconds from going down 2-0 to Colorado when Pavelski scored his first goal of the playoffs. It sent the game to overtime, where San Jose won. With the Sharks in danger of going down 3-1, he scored in overtime to win Game 4. He scored 47 seconds into the clinching Game 6, adding a second goal for good measure.
He scored two goals in each of the first two games against Detroit, both 4-3 wins. The Sharks closed out the Wings in five.
Maybe some players do more than hope. Maybe the special ones have an innate ability to raise their game to match the stakes involved.
“I totally agree,” Sharks center Scott Nichol said. “I think Pavs is a great example. I played with a guy named Chris Drury. He’s also notorious for scoring big goals. It’s just their personality. They want the puck. They want to be the guy in the key situations. Their confidence is real high. It’s what separates him from other players. He wants to be the big-game player.”
Coach Todd McLellan thinks it might be as much mental as it is physical.
“I think certain individuals can raise the level of their play, or their intensity, without it affecting their mindset or their demeanor,” McLellan said, “and Pavs may be one of those guys. As you mention, he’s had an opportunity as a younger player to play in championship games. His involvement with the Olympics last year, with the USA team helped him as far as confidence goes.”
Experience is the one part of the equation that Pavelski embraces. Sort of.
“I don’t know,” he said. “You can always step up, whether you’ve done it before or never done it. Obviously it helps to know you can do it when you get in that situation. You’re kind of telling yourself you’re going to get the chance, you’re going to get one good look at least, and it’s what you do with it.”
Pavelski is as humble and soft-spoken as they come. But he doesn’t hold back when asked what it’s like to be in that zone.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “It’s so much fun. I think the biggest part when you’re playing like that is you’re into the game, you’re mentally engaged. The puck’s coming to you. You’re getting chances. When you do score, the excitement and adrenaline goes through your body. It’s a pretty cool feeling.”
Drool bibs, anyone?
— Column by Gary Peterson, Contra Costa Times
