Pavlov began his professional hockey career after being drafted 64th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to his professional debut, he played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), primarily for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
His National Hockey League (NHL) career was limited to three games played for the St. Louis Blues during the 1987–88 season. However, Pavlov had a significant and extended career in various minor professional leagues, predominantly the International Hockey League (IHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL). Over his career, he played for numerous IHL franchises, including the Peoria Rivermen, Saginaw Hawks, Milwaukee Admirals, Fort Wayne Komets, Cincinnati Cyclones, Atlanta Knights, and Houston Aeros.
A key highlight of Pavlov's career was his back-to-back victories in the IHL's Turner Cup championship. He won the Turner Cup with the Fort Wayne Komets in 1993 and then again with the Atlanta Knights in 1994. He concluded his professional playing career in 1997.