default-cbs-image

The San Jose Sharks will be hoping to close out their second-round series against the Nashville Predators Monday night as they try to advance to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2011. They’ve been one of the postseason’s most impressive teams to date and it appears they’ve also found a good luck charm to help them exorcise their playoff demons.

Perhaps you remember the bizarre scene before Game 1 against Nashville in this series when a black cat wandered onto the ice, walked directly in front of the Sharks bench and then escaped the surface through an open door. As you may have also heard, the cat in question was found by Sharks staff the next day and turned it over to a local shelter, while keeping track of her progress.

In the week since the cat, now affectionately referred to as Jo Paw-velski, made its rather strange debut, the shelter has been working to make sure she is well taken care of as they attempt to find out if she has an owner. If none is fond, she will be up for adoption.

So far no one has come forward, but little Jo is probably the most popular kitty at her shelter now. In fact, the people at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley have a way for you to keep an eye on Jo and a few other feline friends with their 24/7 “MaddieCam.”

The room is all decked out with Sharks blankets. Watch here.

Jo Paw-velski is doing great and now she has some friends. (HSSV)
Jo Paw-velski is doing great and now she has some friends. (HSSV)

Black cats may be viewed as bad luck or bad omens, but the Sharks won that first game she appeared at and now are on the brink of advancing to the conference finals. From the very beginning San Jose’ PR, marketing and social media arms have turned Jo’s appearance into one big positive. They may even be helping the black cats that have been getting a bad rap for all these years.

Additionally, it’s helped aide the campaign to get captain Joe Pavelski, for whom the cat is named (obviously), to land on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 17. 

Pavelski made the final four in the cover vote.

But the real thing all of this extra attention is doing is bringing more exposure to the Humane Society Silicon Valley. It appears there is already a long list of people that would love nothing more than to adopt Jo Paw-velski, as the Sharks said they were overwhelmed by people reaching out to take in the cat. They’re going through the proper channels, though.

Additionally, the Humane Society Silicon Valley can promote other potential adoptive pets for families to take in if they miss out on landing the highly-coveted “Black Cat of the Tank.”

By the way, Jo is looking great compared to the first picture that was released after she was found and taken in to the shelter. Check out the before and after here:

As for the human Joe Pavelski, he’s not doing so bad either. The Sharks captain is one of the postseason’s top performers with eight goals and 12 points. It seems like everything is looking up for the Sharks, their captain and the little good luck charm.

[H/T NHL.com]