Hard Work Paying Off for Pavelski

ST. LOUIS — Through the years, as the San Jose Sharks kept falling short in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Joe Pavelski kept developing chemistry with teammate Joe Thornton.

Through the years, as the Sharks kept being called underachievers, Pavelski kept working at his craft.

The Sharks are one win from their first Stanley Cup Final, closer than ever before in their 25-year history, after defeating the St. Louis Blues 6-3 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final on Monday and taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Pavelski scored two key goals to put them on the cusp, giving him a League-leading 12 goals in the playoffs and 21 points, tied for first with teammate Logan Couture.

His goals were born amid all that disappointment. The first was a product of his longtime connection with Thornton. The second was a product of hours of practice that have made Pavelski, in the words of Couture, “the best in the world” at a certain hockey skill.

This was a great hockey game. The Sharks and Blues went back and forth with speed, skill and animosity, desperate to seize the advantage ahead of Game 6 at SAP Center in San Jose on Wednesday (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

The Blues held a 3-2 lead near the end of the second period, and it seemed all they had to do was hold it. They were 6-0 when leading after two in the playoffs; the Sharks were 1-3 when trailing after two.

But then the Sharks went on the power play. Couture won a battle along the end boards and sent the puck to Thornton, one of the best passers in the League, if not the best. Thornton had his head up at the right side of the net and a clear path to the front of the crease.

“I was going to look to shoot,” Thornton said.

But he has spent years playing with Pavelski, and Pavelski has spent years playing with him. Pavelski’s approach is simple.

“Try to get open,” Pavelski said.

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