Portage County Gazette

Plover native Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks fell behind the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5-0 loss Tuesday, April 16.

After finishing second in the Pacific Division during the regular season, San Jose opened against third-place Vegas in the Western Conference Playoffs in Game 1 Wednesday, April 10.

Pavelski scored the first goal of the game, as he lost a couple of teeth and had to have stitches in his lip when a shot from teammate Brent Burns deflected off Pavelski’s face and went into the net for a power-play goal to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. San Jose went on to win 5-2 to take a 1-0 series

Vegas scored three goals in the opening 6:11 of Game 2 to go up 3-0 Friday, April 12, while Pavelski assisted on a Logan Couture goal at the 16:59 mark of the opening period to start a three-goal spurt in 2:09 that tied the game at 3-3. However, Vegas scored one goal in the second period and another in the third period to win 5-3.

Vegas followed with a 6-3 win at home in Game 3 Sunday, April 14, and then won 5-0 at home Tuesday to take a 3-1 series lead.

Game 5 is scheduled for at 9 p.m. Central Thursday, April 18, in San Jose, with Game 6 set for Saturday, April 20, in Las Vegas, and Game 7 back in San Jose Monday, April 22.

The winner will take on either the Calgary Flames or the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Divisional Finals.