SAN JOSE, Calif. — Joe Pavelski's wondrous tip-in off a puck shot by Brent Burns last Monday night revived the appreciation for one of hockey's hardest skills. In fact, during a postgame press conference, St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock rightfully termed it the "killer goal" of the rubber Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.
Being a great "tipper" is a point of pride for those who practice the art, and by many accounts, nobody practices it any harder than the San Jose Sharks' Pavelski. Now that the Sharks are in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in their 25-year history, could his tipping skill become even more of a tangible asset in a series in which most other things appear equal?
It was in the Western Conference Final. There's no reason to think it can't be again.
Head coach Peter DeBoer commented on Pavelski's tipping expertise following the Sharks' 6-3 victory in Game 5, per ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun:
His ability to get his stick on pucks in the offensive zone, in front of the net, different angles, is as good as anybody I've ever seen. But it's a ...
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Article written by Adrian Dater
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