Hockey players are notoriously crazy. That was on full display last night during the San Jose Sharks Game One against the Vegas Golden Knights.
In the first period, Joe Pavelski scored a goal off a Brent Burns bomb-shot, but it happened to be redirected with his jaw. The Sharks captain quickly left the ice, missed nearly nine minutes of play, came back with a full visor and shield, and finished the game. The Sharks ended up winning 5-2.
Talk about toughness.
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Pavelski’s goal opened the scoring of the game.
After a failed Vegas clear, Brent Burns launched a wrister that ended up high towards the net. Pavelski attempt to get in front of the shot to prepare and deflect it with his stick, but his jaw ended up taking the brunt of the force.
Pavelski immediately dropped his gloves and skated towards the bench, bypassing the celebration of the remaining four teammates on the ice.
Sharks pre and postgame host Brodie Brazil said they went looking for Pavelski’s teeth in the shoveled up snow during a TV timeout.
Not to be graphic but they went looking for Pavelski’s teeth in the shoveled up snow during the tv break. 😳
— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) April 11, 2019
Pavelski returned shortly into the second period and was applauded by the fans.
His lower lip and jaw were very swollen and bloody after the game.
Now this is a hockey player. Pavelski says he knew something was messed up, but it was nice to hear the fans cheer. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/1Loqu4NpUG
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) April 11, 2019
“There’s a couple [stitches] in there. A couple teeth are gone,” Pavelski said to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic SF. “We’ll try to get them fixed and see how they feel tomorrow.”
Pavelski didn’t think anything was broken, and while he has plans to fix his teeth before Friday’s game, he will also get confirmation nothing is wrong with his jaw.
“It’s sore, that’s for sure.”
