April 23, 2019: The Greatest Night in Sharks' History?
One year ago today, Barclay Goodrow netted perhaps the most significant goal in the history of San Jose Sharks' hockey. (Sorry, Jamie Baker.)
Admittedly, this is a bold statement to make about a team that has qualified for the Conference Finals on five separate occasions and recently conquered the West to duel the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals. However, Goodrow's goal seemed to carry extra weight for a franchise in dire need of a "moment".
Nonetheless, his Game 7 overtime winner would have been impossible without the historic rally preceding it.
April 16, 2019: Game 4 in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights rout the Sharks by a score of 5-0 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in this best-of-7 series. San Jose packs their bags and returns home, searching desperately for answers.
In Game 5, the Sharks found their winning formula at last, as Tomas Hertl scored only 76 seconds into the contest and Martin Jones made 30 saves to carry the Sharks to a 5-2 victory.
Game 6 quickly created an agonizing Easter Sunday. Logan Couture put the Sharks on the board in the closing moments of the 1st period. Jonathan Marchessault answered midway through the 2nd.
Minutes turned to hours, and hours turned to (what felt like) weeks before Tomas Hertl beat Marc-Andre Fleury in double overtime to force Game 7. Martin Jones posted a career performance on this night, tallying 58 saves in the Sharks' 2-1 victory.
And then came April 23. A night that would soon inspire an unbelievable amount of merchandise and memorabilia. A night on which Sharks' faithful will always remember precisely where they were.
Personally, I had a Tuesday evening class on my college campus. After being dismissed, I made a beeline for my dorm to find the Golden Knights leading the Sharks 2-0 with the 3rd period upcoming. Fully expecting another hockey-related heartbreak, I prayed that San Jose would find a bounce somehow to work their way back into the game.
Instead, it was Vegas that caught the bounce. Early in the 3rd, Max Pacioretty beat Martin Jones through the five-hole as the Golden Knights expanded their lead to 3-0. All hope was lost. Until...
Midway through the final frame, Joe Pavelski took a face-off tumble, falling awkwardly head-first to the ice in horrifying fashion. SAP Center held its collective breath as Pavelski was assisted off and the Sharks were granted a 5-minute powerplay on the major penalty assessed to Cody Eakin.
This was it: San Jose's last chance to salvage their season. If the team could net a goal or two to trim into their 3-0 deficit, perhaps there was still a chance to force overtime.
The Sharks scored 4 times. In a span of 4 minutes and 1 second, it was Couture, Hertl, Couture (again), and finally Labanc. A year later, this feat is still unfathomable and, frankly, indescribable. Through some impossible divine gift, the Sharks now led Game 7 by the score of 4-3.
It still gives me chills. If there were ever a moment to win for your Captain, this was it. Unfortunately, the Sharks weren't out of the woods yet.
With 47 seconds remaining, the pesky Jonathan Marchessault reemerged and the Golden Knights tied the game at 4 goals apiece to force a series-deciding overtime.
Thankfully, on this night, destiny would not be denied.
In the closing minutes of overtime, Erik Karlsson made a seemingly harmless pass to Barclay Goodrow, who turned on the jets, buried the series-winner, and sent the Bay Area and hockey world alike into an absolute frenzy.
Admittedly, a year removed from this historic feat, time has not been terribly kind.
The Sharks proceeded to dispose of the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2019 postseason before ultimately falling to the St. Louis Blues in the Conference Finals.
In February 2020, GM Doug Wilson and company dealt Barclay Goodrow to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a first-round draft pick.
Nonetheless, time can never erase Goodrow's most iconic moment in teal, and Sharks fans won't soon forget such a remarkable comeback against their most bitter rivals.
Admittedly, this is a bold statement to make about a team that has qualified for the Conference Finals on five separate occasions and recently conquered the West to duel the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals. However, Goodrow's goal seemed to carry extra weight for a franchise in dire need of a "moment".
Nonetheless, his Game 7 overtime winner would have been impossible without the historic rally preceding it.
April 16, 2019: Game 4 in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights rout the Sharks by a score of 5-0 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in this best-of-7 series. San Jose packs their bags and returns home, searching desperately for answers.
In Game 5, the Sharks found their winning formula at last, as Tomas Hertl scored only 76 seconds into the contest and Martin Jones made 30 saves to carry the Sharks to a 5-2 victory.
Game 6 quickly created an agonizing Easter Sunday. Logan Couture put the Sharks on the board in the closing moments of the 1st period. Jonathan Marchessault answered midway through the 2nd.
Minutes turned to hours, and hours turned to (what felt like) weeks before Tomas Hertl beat Marc-Andre Fleury in double overtime to force Game 7. Martin Jones posted a career performance on this night, tallying 58 saves in the Sharks' 2-1 victory.
And then came April 23. A night that would soon inspire an unbelievable amount of merchandise and memorabilia. A night on which Sharks' faithful will always remember precisely where they were.
Personally, I had a Tuesday evening class on my college campus. After being dismissed, I made a beeline for my dorm to find the Golden Knights leading the Sharks 2-0 with the 3rd period upcoming. Fully expecting another hockey-related heartbreak, I prayed that San Jose would find a bounce somehow to work their way back into the game.
Instead, it was Vegas that caught the bounce. Early in the 3rd, Max Pacioretty beat Martin Jones through the five-hole as the Golden Knights expanded their lead to 3-0. All hope was lost. Until...
Midway through the final frame, Joe Pavelski took a face-off tumble, falling awkwardly head-first to the ice in horrifying fashion. SAP Center held its collective breath as Pavelski was assisted off and the Sharks were granted a 5-minute powerplay on the major penalty assessed to Cody Eakin.
This was it: San Jose's last chance to salvage their season. If the team could net a goal or two to trim into their 3-0 deficit, perhaps there was still a chance to force overtime.
The Sharks scored 4 times. In a span of 4 minutes and 1 second, it was Couture, Hertl, Couture (again), and finally Labanc. A year later, this feat is still unfathomable and, frankly, indescribable. Through some impossible divine gift, the Sharks now led Game 7 by the score of 4-3.
It still gives me chills. If there were ever a moment to win for your Captain, this was it. Unfortunately, the Sharks weren't out of the woods yet.
With 47 seconds remaining, the pesky Jonathan Marchessault reemerged and the Golden Knights tied the game at 4 goals apiece to force a series-deciding overtime.
Thankfully, on this night, destiny would not be denied.
In the closing minutes of overtime, Erik Karlsson made a seemingly harmless pass to Barclay Goodrow, who turned on the jets, buried the series-winner, and sent the Bay Area and hockey world alike into an absolute frenzy.
Admittedly, a year removed from this historic feat, time has not been terribly kind.
The Sharks proceeded to dispose of the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2019 postseason before ultimately falling to the St. Louis Blues in the Conference Finals.
In February 2020, GM Doug Wilson and company dealt Barclay Goodrow to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a first-round draft pick.
Nonetheless, time can never erase Goodrow's most iconic moment in teal, and Sharks fans won't soon forget such a remarkable comeback against their most bitter rivals.
Awesome post Christopher! I felt like I was reliving that amazing Game 7.
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