.@49ers O-Line absolutely PUMPED UP the Tank and Sharks players ??? pic.twitter.com/JG45vSL1Yj
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) May 9, 2019
The Sharks don’t seem to need much outside help. They’ve been a buzzsaw throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and at last check, lead the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 at the end of the first period in Game 7 of the second round. If the result holds, it would be the Sharks’ first return to the Western Conference Finals since 2016, when the Sharks made it to their first Stanley Cup Final.
Still, getting hyped up by some of the strongest, most intimidating men in the country doesn’t seem to hurt. Before tonight’s game, the entire 49ers offensive line gave the Sharks a visit. Joe Staley, Laken Tomlinson, Weston Richburg, Mike Person and Mike McGlinchey all donned Sharks jerseys before the game, turning around to hype up the Sharks as they headed through the tunnel towards the ice.
Minutes later, Joe Pavelski opened the scoring with this goal:
WELCOME BACK JOE PAVELSKI!! pic.twitter.com/R6HU4Ad84b
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) May 9, 2019
Less than four minutes later, Tomas Hertl doubled the Sharks tally to make it 2-0:
Hertl makes it 2-0 Sharks! pic.twitter.com/soF1QTrYGb
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) May 9, 2019
But at the end of the first period, the Avalanche cut into the deficit, with Mikko Rantanen scoring with a mere 6.8 seconds left on the clock. After the period, Staley made an appearance on the big board, encouraging fans to indulge in some ice cold adult beverages:
Say hello to hockey hype man Joe Staley, then pop another cold one ? #SJSharks #49ers @jstaley74 pic.twitter.com/gCU2llwipY
— Daniel Brown (@BrownieAthletic) May 9, 2019
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