SAN JOSE -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer had "no update medically" on injured captain Joe Pavelski after San Jose's 5-4 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Tuesday's Game 7.
With 10:47 remaining in the third period of the final game of the first-round Stanley Cup playoffs series, Pavelski was helped off the SAP Center ice after hitting his head on the ice. Pavelski collided awkwardly with Golden Knights forward Paul Stastny, moments after his teammate, Cody Eakin, shoved the Sharks captain following a face-off in the Sharks' offensive zone.
Prayers to Pavs as he left after hitting his head on the ice 🙏 pic.twitter.com/UwbgD37gRa— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 24, 2019
DeBoer was asked if Pavelski needed to be hospitalized, but he said he did not know if the Sharks forward left the arena after the collision.
In the immediate aftermath, Eakin was given a five-minute major for cross-checking. The Sharks trailed 3-0 at that point, and DeBoer said alternate captains Joe Thornton and Logan Couture spoke up immediately.
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"I think they saw a guy they love and respect in some distress," DeBoer said in his postgame press conference, "and wanted to do what they could to help the situation which was [to] try and get some goals and get us back in the game, and they did that. It's a special group that way."
The Sharks scored four goals on the ensuing power play, taking a 4-3 lead over the Golden Knights with 6:39 remaining in regulation. Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault responded with the game-tying goal with 47 seconds remaining in the third period, but San Jose still emerged victorious, thanks to Barclay Goodrow's series-deciding goal with 1:42 remaining in overtime.
"We rallied like that all year at different points, even early in the series here we were down 3-0 [in a Game 2 loss]," DeBoer said. "People have written 'em off, down 3-0 in games, down 3-1 in the series and there was a lot of belief in there."
[RELATED: Watch wild Sharks-Vegas Game 7 end on Goodrow's OT goal]
Pavelski's series ended with four points in seven games. He played the majority of the series with a shield on the lower half of his face, after scoring a goal with his face in the Sharks' Game 1 win over the Golden Knights.
The Sharks will open their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday at SAP Center. San Jose will not practice Wednesday, but all eyes will be on Pavelski's health once the team returns to the ice.
