SAN JOSE -- After a third period that had just about anything a hockey fan could ask for, Game 7 of the Sharks' Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights ended in fitting fashion -- with sudden-death overtime.
Barclay Goodrow's goal with 1:41 remaining in OT on Tuesday night sealed the Sharks' 5-4 series-clinching win at SAP Center.
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The game-winning goal followed what will go down as one of the craziest periods in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Sharks trailed 3-0 when captain Joe Pavelski left the game with 10:47 left in the third period after he was cross-checked by Knights forward Cody Eakin and collided with Vegas forward Paul Stastny. Pavelski did not return for overtime, but his teammates nearly won the game for him.
The Sharks scored four goals during Eakin's five-minute major penalty, off the sticks of Logan Couture (twice), Tomas Hertl and Kevin Labanc. Labanc's goal gave San Jose a 4-3 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the third.
Vegas applied pressure and pushed for an equalizer in the final 6:39 of regulation. San Jose killed off a Labanc penalty, but the Golden Knights tied the score with 47 seconds remaining in regulation and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury pulled for an extra attacker. It was Jonathan Marchessault's fourth goal in four games.
San Jose Sharks
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Now, thanks to Goodrow's game-winner, the Sharks will advance to play the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, beginning Friday in San Jose.
Chances are they won't play in a game as bonkers as this one.