So Where Do We Put Joel Ward In The Mr. Clutch Rankings?
I need you to do me a favor real quick and just think of the balls it took for Joel Ward to score this goal. Seriously think about it. When you’re coming in on a 3-on-2 and you elect to just blast a clapper as soon as you skate across the blueline, you have one of two options. 1) Shoot low and pray for a rebound or 2) Score a fucking goal. If Joel Ward puts that puck up just a little higher and Murray is able to glove it, well then he looks like the biggest jackass on the ice. But instead, Joel Ward breaks out that big ol’ dick of his and ripped one past Matt Murray to tie the game at 2 and force overtime in Game 3. Leading eventually to the San Jose Sharks winning their first ever Stanley Cup Final game in franchise history.
The Finnish goal call by Antti Makinen was even better…
It’s Donskoi! O shit, whaddup.
But again, this goal doesn’t happen without Joel Ward coming through in the clutch. Which he’s done plenty of times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs throughout his career at this point. Quick little refresher on the King Slayer that is Joel Ward. He knocked out the Bruins in overtime of Game 7 back in 2012
He scored with 1.3 seconds left in Game 1 against the Rangers last year to give them the lead in the series…
He’s already scored a few big goals in the playoffs this year against Nashville and St. Louis, and then we had last night’s clap bomb. When you think of the most clutch players currently in the NHL, you obviously have to start with Patrick Kane. After Kane, you probably go with Justin Williams and Jonathan Quick. Then you probably throw in a few more players on the Blackhawks and Kings. But when you’re looking at players who haven’t won the Stanley Cup in the past 5 seasons, I think you have to put Joel Ward right up at the top in terms of Clutch Gene. He’s had quite a few big time memorable goals, especially for somebody who isn’t considered a superstar by any stretch of the imagination. All I’m saying is that you have to at least throw Joel Ward in your current Top 10 Most Clutch Boss Men rankings. And if you don’t, well then you’re just a racist. And we can’t support that here so you should just leave and never come back.
UPDATE: I know he’s retired now but not even mentioning Danny Briere in this post makes me feel sick. Putting myself in timeout now
Still an uphill battle for the Sharks but last night’s win was a start. All we have to do now is make sure that Marshawn Lynch shows up to the rest of the games this series and all will be well.
