(Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
Yesterday, Joe Pavelski announced he didn’t plan on playing the 2024-25 season and retire from the NHL after an 18-year career. Pavelski will turn 40 on July 11.
The former 2003 seventh round pick of the Sharks has spent the first 13 years of his career in San Jose and was the Sharks captain from 2015-2019. On July, 1, 2019, Pavelski joined the Dallas Stars where he has played for the past five seasons. Pavelski was part of Dallas’ 2020 Stanley Cup team and the 2023 and 2024 Western Conferecne Final teams.
In his career, Pavelski has recorded 1,068 points (476G, 592A) in 1,332 games played. In Dallas, Pavelski recorded 307 points (121G, 186A) in 369 games played.
“He’s meant everything to our group,” said Wyatt Johnston after the Stars were eliminated by the Oilers following Game 6 on Sunday.
If this is the end for Pavelski’s career, let’s take a dive into the top five moments of his career while wearing Victory Green:
#5 Scoring go-ahead goal in 2022 first round in Game 3 vs Flames
The 2021-22 season was an up and down season for the Stars. Pavelski was the only all-star for the Stars during the season. Pavelski led the Stars in points with 81 and assists with 54. The Stars met the Flames in the opening round of the 2022 Playoffs.
Entering Game 3, the series was tied 1-1. With Game 3 in Dallas, the Stars had a chance to take the series lead. With the game tied 2-2 with under 10 minutes to play in regulation, Pavelski scored a powerplay goal on a rebound after a shot by Vladislav Namestnikov. The Stars went on to win Game 3 by a final of 4-2.
#4 Scoring 1,000th point vs Red Wings
On April 10, 2023, the Stars flew to the Motor City to take on the Red Wings. Pavelski entered the game with 999 career points.
In the second period, the Stars were leading 4-0. At 3:37 of the period, Pavelski deflected a shot by Miro Heiskanen to score and make it 5-0. After scoring, the whole Dallas benched went onto the ice to celebrate Pavelski’s milestone.
#3 Keeping Dallas’ season alive in Game 4 of 2023 WCF vs Golden Knights
Entering Game 4 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals, the Stars trailed the Golden Knights 3-0 in the series. After an embarrassing 4-0 defeat in Game 3, most expected the Stars to get swept at home. With their backs against the wall, Jason Robertson scored the first two goals for the Stars.
Game 4 needed overtime. The Stars lost all four games of the 2023 Playoffs that went into overtime. With a chance to get swept at home, Pavelski decided it wasn’t going to happen.
In overtime, Pavelski scored a powerplay goal at 3:18 of overtime to send the AAC into a frenzy and keep the Stars season alive. Despite losing the series in six games, scoring an overtime goal in the Playoffs will always be remembered.
#2 Game 3’s hat trick vs Flames in the Bubble
When the Stars began the first round of the 2020 Playoffs, they found themselves in a hole against the Flames trailing 2-0 entering Game 3. With a disappointing 31-point season for Pavelski, the Stars needed Pavelski to come through with a huge game to avoid a 3-0 deficit.
Game 3 went back and forth and the Stars found themselves losing 4-3 in the final minute. With two goals scored already, Pavelski tied the game with 11.9 seconds remaining to finish off the hat trick. It was Pavelski’s first Playoff hat trick.
The Stars would win Game 3 in overtime and win the series in six games. If Pavelski doesn’t tie the game with 11.9 seconds remaining, the Stars could’ve faced a 3-0 deficit.
#1 Four-goal game in Game 1 vs Kraken
In the first round of the 2023 Playoffs, the Stars met the Wild. In Game 1 of the series, Matt Dumba injured Pavelski on a high hit. It sent Pavelski to concussion protocol. Despite not having Pavelski, the Stars won the series in six games.
Pavelski returned to the lineup for the first game of the second round series against the Kraken. Would there be any nerves after not playing five games for Pavelski? No.
Pavelski scored the first goal of the game at 2:25 of the game and added a second goal in the first at 12:18. The Stars found themselves trailing 4-2 in the third period.
At 9:50, Pavelski scored to complete the hat trick and make it a one-goal game. Just 3:33 later, Pavelski scored his fourth goal of the game and sent the AAC crowd wild. In his first game back from injury, Pavelski scored four goals in a game.
Despite the Stars losing 5-4 in overtime, Pavelski’s four-goal game lives in Stars and NHL Playoff history. Pavelski became the oldest player in NHL history to score four goals in an NHL game.
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