2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks Eliminate Avalanche

In a closer-than-anticipated series, the Sharks finally finished off the broken down Avalanche, winning the series four games to two.

The first two games of the series were split, but the eventually injuries and fatigue took over the inexperienced Avs, and San Jose proved why they finished first in the Western Conference.

Colorado managed to win game three thanks to a fluky own goal by Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle, but it was all San Jose from there, out shooting the Avalanche 114-80, and out scoring them 5-2 the final three games. The total shot differential in the series was 241-149.

Through it all, a man named Joe emerged for the Sharks. However, this Joe wasn't the same Joe who led the team with 69 assists and 89 points in the regular season.

Joe Pavelski, who had 25 goals and 51 points during the regular season dominated the series for San Jose, something Joe Thornton has failed to do in five post seasons for the Sharks. Pavelski led the Sharks in goals (five), points (eight), and dominated in the face-off circle, winning over 70 percent of the draws he took.

Quite the turn around from a player who only mustered one assist in the Sharks debacle loss to Anaheim in the first round a year ago.

Colorado gave San Jose a good first round test, mostly because of the stellar play of Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson, but Pavelski stepped up in every dire situation.

In danger of going down two games to zero at home, Pavelski scored the game tying goal in the dieing seconds game two, a game the Sharks won in overtime to tie the series up. He scored again in overtime in game four, when the Sharks were in danger of going down three games to one.

And just when it looked like the Avalanche, who were playing as bad as anyone, were going to force a game seven, Pavelski broke the third period tie in game six, scoring the series winning goal.

If nothing else for the San Jose Sharks, this series will be an eye opener on not who to get rid of for general manager Doug Wilson should the Sharks fall flat yet again.