SAN JOSE – A day after playing the role of the “warrior,” Joe Pavelski had to do the same thing the rest of us mere mortals would do after taking a puck to the mouth – go to the dentist.
Pavelski opened up scoring in Game 1 in insane fashion: By deflecting Brent Burns’ shot into the net off of his face. Pavelski didn’t fall to the ice after getting hit, but very quickly exited the rink and headed straight into the dressing room with a little over five minutes left in the first period.
He rejoined the Sharks on the bench a couple of minutes into the second stanza with a new visor attached to his helmet to shield his injured mouth. When he addressed the press post game, he admitted he had to get a couple of stitches after he left the ice and that "a couple teeth" were missing.
DeBoer previously told the press after Wednesday's game how much it meant for their captain to not just take a puck to the face as he did, but to return and continue having an impact on the game.
Pavelski has registered 92 points (45 goals, 47 assists) in 122 playoff games during his career. He tallied one goal and two assists in six games played against the Golden Knights in last year's Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Sharks resume their first-round matchup with the Golden Knights on Friday.