"Corner pocket, or top shelf tonight?"
It takes a confident man to ask his son that as he heads off to begin yet another grueling playoff series. Of course, Joe Thornton had every reason to feel that way.
The Sharks had just erased a 3-1 first-round series deficit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- with one of the wildest comebacks in NHL history -- to advance past the Vegas Golden Knights in a thrilling Game 7.
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So, yes, Thornton was riding high. Can you blame him?
Thornton is featured on the newest episode of 'Quest for the Stanley Cup', which airs in full on ESPN Plus on Friday. In the episode, you'll get a behind the scenes look at Thornton's eventful week spanning the end of the first round and the beginning of the second round of the NHL playoffs.
"I haven't had the chance to win a Stanley Cup yet, and that's why you play," Thornton says in the episode preview. "I'm going to be 40 this summer, so you don't know if it's your last chance.
"I'm lucky enough to be playing in the best league in the world for so long, and it puts a smile on my face every single day," he continues. "Every single day."
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San Jose Sharks
As for Thornton's confident question ... it clearly wasn't just talk.
The Bearded One scored a critical goal in San Jose's Game 1 win over the Avalanche. It wasn't corner pocket or top shelf, but it made Thornton and the Sharks smile all the same.