SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton cradled the head of his captain Joe Pavelski in a towel that soaked up a disturbing amount of blood. He spoke to him, reassured him, before handing him off to a trainer who would walk Pavelski off the ice for treatment.
Thornton turned away and skated back out to where Pavelski's skull had bounced off the unforgiving ice, collecting the gear left there. He returned to the Sharks' bench and found it shaken by the horror scene. There were 10 minutes and 47 seconds left in Game 7 against the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs -- potentially 10 minutes and 47 seconds left to the Sharks' season -- with the Knights holding a 3-0 lead.