Sharks' Joe Pavelski Returns from Head Injury for Game 7 vs. Avalanche

The San Jose Sharks announced the return of captain Joe Pavelski to the lineup just before their Western Conference Semifinal Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.

The 34-year-old center made his own announcement regarding his return when he put the Sharks up 1-0 at the 14:03 mark in the first period. Pavelski also assisted on Tomas Hertl's goal just under six minutes later.

Pavelski had not taken the ice since he suffered a gruesome concussion during Game 7 of the Sharks' first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on April 23. In the aftermath of a faceoff, Pavelski hit his head on the ice after Cody Eakin cross-checked him.

According to the Associated Press (h/t Spectrum News), Pavelski required eight staples in his head.

The Game 7 in which Pavelski went down resulted in the Sharks coming back from 3-0 down in the third period to eventually oust the Golden Knights in overtime. That historic performance was at home, in the "Shark Tank," as is Wednesday night's contest.

At home this postseason, the Sharks are 5-2.

Pavelski quickly provided a welcomed reinforcement between the blue lines. However, he had been aiding his squad from the sideline during his recovery.

"He's a great resource for me on everything—line combinations, lineups," San Jose head coach Peter DeBoer said on April 29, according to the Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka. "He has a great perspective and a different perspective than us as a staff."

The winner will take on the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Final.