There's "taking one for the team," and then there's taking one on the chin for the team. San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski fell into the latter classification during the first night of the playoffs on Wednesday.
During the first period of Game 1 between the Sharks and Golden Knights, Pavelski managed to break the ice and get his team on the board first. Unfortunately, he did so by taking a puck straight to the face and having it deflect into the net.
Pavelski was in some clear discomfort immediately after taking the point shot to the grill and he headed off the ice for repairs in the San Jose locker room. The damage was significant enough that the team apparently had to go fishing for his teeth during intermission.
Not to be graphic but they went looking for Pavelski’s teeth in the shoveled up snow during the tv break.
