#NHL17Pavelski: Top 5 Goals Of The Year By Sharks' Captain
It's that time of year - EA Sports is opening up the voting polls for their cover athlete for the upcoming NHL 17. The first round of votes have passed and the San Jose Sharks captain, Joe Pavelski, is in the final four.
He is currently up against rookie Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, but c'mon, let's show the rookie how he's got to earn it in the big leagues.
Make sure you vote by clicking the link HERE - you can vote as many times as you want. The second round ends May 9th, but keep voting in the final round if Pavelski gets through. You can also vote by tweeting #NHL17Pavelski as many times as you'd like.
In the meantime, take a look as some of Pavelski's top goals from this season:
1. May 1, 2016 vs. Predators - Pavelski Scores Go-Ahead Goal In Game 2
The Sharks led 1-0 for most of the game thanks to some stellar saves by goaltender Martin Jones, but late in the third period the Preds tied it up with a goal of their own. Pavelski broke open the game minutes later to help gain the momentum the Sharks needed to take game two against Nashville.
2. Nov. 3, 2015 vs. Columbus - Pavelski Uses Fancy Deke To Tie Up Game At SAP Center
Pavelski does this as good as anyone - there's a reason why he has been one of the Sharks' deadliest shootout scorers in recent history. Pavelski deke'd one of the NHL's best goalies and scored top-shelf at point blank range.
3. Jan. 9, 2016 vs. Toronto - Hertl Sets Up Pavelski For Pretty Goal
We have seen this before with Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton usually setting each other up with beautiful no-look passes in front of the net, but this time it was Tomas Hertl finding Pavelski with a behind-the-back, no-looker right on the tape. Pavelski gets credit for the goal, but let's not forget to appreciate that perfect pass.
4. Jan. 23, 2016 vs. Minnesota - Pavelski Wrists Late Game-Winning Goal Over The Wild
Some people forget Pavelski isn't just a guy who can put up goals in garbage time or purely on the power-play. This goal is a good example of his even-strength clutchness late in games - like a shark smelling blood in the water, Pavelski thrives in these situations.
5. March 19, 2016 vs. New York - Pavelski Slips In Tic-Tac-Toe Goal On The Breakaway
I mean, c'mon, this one is just silly. The clear 2-on-none breakaway, several clean passes to get All-Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist off balance only to shoot it at a terrible angle causing the goalie head it in, defeated. It's always icing on the cake when you force the goalie to score the goal himself.