Joe Pavelski ties record for NHL playoff goals by U.S.-born player

Pavelski ties NHL playoff goals record by U.S.-born player originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

Joe Pavelski is leaving his mark on the sport of hockey and will go down as one of the greatest U.S.-born players in NHL history.

On Friday, the former Sharks captain moved closer to sole possession of the record for most playoff goals all-time by a U.S.-born player.

In the first period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pavelski gave the Dallas Stars a 2-0 lead with this goal:

That goal gave up him 59 career playoff goals, breaking a tie with Mike Modano for second place among all U.S.-born players and putting him just one goal behind Joe Mullen.

Two periods later, with the Stars trailing 4-3, Pavelski equaled Mullen’s mark, tying the pivotal game, 4-4.

In addition to tying Mullen, Pavelski’s 12 goals during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs are the most by a player at the age of 36 or older.

Pavelski’s second goal of the night sent Game 4 to overtime, but the Stars fell on a power play goal by Kevin Shattenkirk in the first OT period.

The Stars and Pavelski now face a three-games-to-one deficit in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.