Joel Ward’s big third period sparks Sharks to Game 1 win
San Jose Sharks forward Joel Ward has a longstanding reputation as a clutch playoff performer. Late in Game 1 of his team’s second-round series against the Nashville Predators he lived up to this status. Ward took over, scoring a goal and adding an assist to help the Sharks erase a one-goal third period deficit and win 5-2.
Ward gave San Jose the go-ahead goal with a beautiful breakaway move on Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, faking out his former Nashville teammate then going to his backhand to tuck the puck behind Rinne at the 11:49 mark of the third.
Before that momentum-changing goal, Ward got the primary assist on Tomas Hertl’s power play goal at the 2:37 mark of the third to knot the game at 1-1.
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Later in the frame, Ward’s line kept the Predators in their zone and led to a high-stick by forward Calle Jarnkrok on Joonas Donskoi.
“I just try to embrace the moment,” Ward said. “I think it’s just the atmosphere, the crowds, whether you’re home or away, it’s just fun. Everyone’s ramped up.”
On the ensuing power play Sharks forward Logan Couture deflected in a feed from Joe Pavelski for the game-winner at the 15:40 mark to put the game at 3-1 in favor of the Sharks. Predators center Ryan Johansen scored at the 18:11 mark to bring his team within one, but Couture fired an empty netter just 20 seconds later to ice the game.
The Predators took the lead after Mike Fisher scored a power play goal at the 4:33 mark of the second period, but from that point on it was all Sharks.
San Jose outshot Nashville 27-19 the final two periods and dominated puck possession after Fisher’s score. Their power play, which came into the game as one of the postseason’s best units, finished the contest 2-for-3.
“It was tough to jump into a game after a week off,” Couture said. “We were a little sluggish in the first. They were the better team there for a little while.”
San Jose signed the 35-year-old Ward to a three-year $9.825 million contract in the offseason to add some size and veteran playoff poise. Ward played three seasons with the Predators and in Nashville he started his playoff reputation with seven goals and 13 points in 12 games during the 2010-11 postseason.
“This time of year everybody’s looking for big-heavy-hard players,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. “You get to this time of year, there’s eight teams left in the NHL and 22 sitting at home, and there’s very little separating the teams talent wise. It’s usually will and strength and how hard you’re willing to play. That’s why he thrives. He’s that type of player, those are his characteristics. They don’t show up as much in the regular season as they do at this time of year.”
This postseason he has six points in six games. Game 2 is Sunday at SAP Center in San Jose.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
