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Sheng’s Daily: Appreciating Barclay Goodrow’s Stanley Cup Close-out Shift

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4 years ago

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It was a big day yesterday at San Jose Hockey Now!

First, we announced our podcast — we’re partnering with Locked On Sharks!

Introducing San Jose Hockey Now’s Podcast!

Look for a fresh podcast pretty much every weekday!

Then, I had fun speculating about Patrik Laine to the San Jose Sharks — would you trade Tomas Hertl and Brent Burns for the 22-year-old sniper?

Speculation: Does Patrik Laine to the Sharks Make Sense?

Around the NHL…

Joe Pavelski has watched Barclay Goodrow grow up.

Back in 2013, Goodrow was finishing up his fourth season in the OHL. The undrafted 20-year-old forward was at a crossroads in his career.

“I was given the option to go the Grand Rapids camp and maybe sign an AHL contract,” Goodrow said, after an impressive stint at Detroit Red Wings rookie camp. “But I figured for my development it would be better to come back to the OHL for one last season and get lots of ice time playing in all situations.”

It was a prescient decision. In his overage season, Goodrow captained North Bay to the OHL Finals. This led to an entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks.

For the next three years, Goodrow bounced between the AHL and the NHL. Meanwhile, Sharks lifer Pavelski was named captain in Goodrow’s second NHL season.

By 2018-19, Pavelski had long etched his place in San Jose Sharks lore. That post-season, Goodrow joined Pavelski, writing his name in stone by scoring the Game Seven overtime goal to complete the 3-1 series comeback against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Last night, Pavelski and Goodrow took the last face-off of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, but on opposite sides.

UFA Pavelski had signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars last summer. Goodrow, now considered one of the top penalty killers in the league, was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning during the Trade Deadline.

Up 3-2 in the series and 2-0 in Game Six, with just 37.4 seconds between the Lightning and the Stanley Cup, the two ex-San Jose Sharks provided high drama:

There were so many small, excellent plays by the ex-teammates, here are a few that caught my eye:

00:10 Off the draw, Pavelski (16) desperately launches himself into Goodrow (19), allowing Alexander Radulov (47) to sweep the puck back to the point. Dallas gains possession.

00:14 Pavelski stays sorry-not-sorry on the ice, running interference on Goodrow, who’s trying to defend the middle of the ice. This helps open up a shooting lane for John Klingberg (3).

00:19 Pavelski launches himself at another loose puck, keeping the puck alive at the left point. The makings of a miracle, the puck dribbles through three Lightning players, including Goodrow, onto Tyler Seguin’s (91) blade in the left corner. For a split-second, Seguin has daylight and Jamie Benn (14) ready for the one-timer on a 2-on-1. But Goodrow recovers, limiting Seguin’s options and forcing a wild shot that misses the net.

00:28 Pavelski is now at the left point and he gets Erik Cernak (81) to bite on a shot-fake, opening a shot lane. Andrei Vasilevskiy fights off the puck, while Anthony Cirelli’s (71) stick check prevents Seguin from corraling the rebound.

00:35 Goodrow’s defensive positioning — he watches Radulov like a hawk — prevents a direct pass back to the point. There’s just 13.8 seconds left, but Radulov is forced to give the puck to Miro Heiskanen (4) on the perimeter.

00:37 It’s now Goodrow’s moment. Because there’s so little time left, Klingberg hurries a one-timer, right into Goodrow’s shin pads. The puck exits the zone with 10.6 seconds left. There’s just one more puck battle for Goodrow to win:

Also, Pat Maroon makes history:

The Conn Smythe vote was very close:

San Jose Sharks fans haven’t forgotten about Yanni Gourde, who made his pro debut with the Worcester Sharks and later played for the San Francisco Bulls:

A look back at an unprecedented post-season:

But it’s now the off-season — Sportsnet offers 25 trade candidates.

There was actually a trade on the same day that the Stanley Cup was awarded, as Vegas traded Brandon Pirri to Chicago for Dylan Sikura. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Dan Kingerski takes an early stab at projecting Pittsburgh’s 2020-21 lines. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

While Christian Arnold asks what’s next for the Islanders? (NYI Hockey Now)

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