Sharks, Avalanche focus on team, not individual, success
Don’t even bother bringing up personal accolades in the middle of a playoff run. The Sharks and Avalanche don’t want to hear about it.
For instance: With his goal in Game 3 on Tuesday, Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon has at least a point in seven straight games. It’s the longest point streak by an Avalanche player since Peter Forsberg’s seven-game streak in 2004.
“I don’t care,” MacKinnon said.
On the other side of the ice, Sharks forward Logan Couture is coming off a game in which he registered a hat trick. He has a playoff-leading nine goals in 10 games.
“I don’t care what my numbers get to be,” Couture said. “This is what you play hockey for. This is what you play 82 games for. I’ve been fortunate enough to play on some very good teams and we’ve only missed the playoffs once since I’ve been in San Jose, and these games are so much fun. You’re playing for the ultimate prize.”
The Sharks hold a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals series, which resumes Thursday in Denver.
San Jose again will be without team captain Joe Pavelski, who was injured in Game 7 of the first-round series against Vegas and left the ice bleeding from the head. But NHL.com reported Wednesday that Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said Pavelski was scheduled to be back on the ice in San Jose for the first time since the April 23 injury.
And, according to the report, it’s possible that Pavelski could rejoin the team during this series.
“He’s getting better every day,” DeBoer said. “He was Facetiming us after the game (Tuesday) night, so he’s feeling better. I think we’re all excited about the progress he’s making, so I wouldn’t say he’s not going to be available, no.” Hurricanes 5, Islanders 2: Justin Williams netted the go-ahead goal with 9:45 remaining and Teuvo Teravainen scored twice as host Carolina beat New York to take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
After losing the first two games of its first-round series with Washington, Carolina has won seven of eight and will try for the sweep Friday.
“The next game’s always the toughest,” head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “They’re not going to go away.” Stars 4, Blues 2: Rookie Roope Hintz scored his fifth goal of the playoffs, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov each had two assists and host Dallas won to tie the West semifinals series at 2-2.
Game 5 is Friday night in St. Louis.