It's a bit of an understatement to say that it's hard for a hockey team to rally back from a 3-0 hole. A season or two ago, the San Jose Sharks struggled when they got into that position, especially early in a game. However, the Sharks did just that on Tuesday night when they notched three unanswered goals against the Winnipeg Jets, eventually pushing the tilt into overtime. That's no easy feat given that the Jets entered that game 22-1-4 when scoring the first goal.
While the Sharks did fall in OT, losing 5-4, the comeback in and of itself was something to behold. In fact, Team Teal has come from behind like that a couple times in its last stretch of 10 games. While that doesn't sound like much, it has helped the Sharks snag second place in the Pacific Division race for playoff contention. After a so-so start to their 2017-18 campaign, they have a confidence and swagger that is making them a very resilient product.
"I think there's a feeling that we're never really out of a game," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said after the contest with the Jets. "You know that, as long as there's time on the clock, that we can still get back in the game."
Where did this resiliency come from?
DeBoer pointed to the character in the dressing room — all the bearded veterans who make up the team's identity. But you have to admit, generating more offense than the team was early in the season doesn't hurt. The Sharks have gone from the same players scoring two or fewer goals every game to new faces helping create scoring chances. Forward Timo Meier, for example, has scored three goals in his past four games with a point in four straight. Over the first half of the season, he's gone from "one of the young guys who needs to step up" to a top-line spot with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski.
Improved special teams certainly doesn't hurt, either. San Jose's power play struggled for a couple seasons, even back in 2016 when the squad made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. At the halfway point of the season, the Sharks have the fifth best power play in the league and the fifth best penalty kill to go along with it.
You also can't give out kudos without tipping your cap to Aaron Dell. The 28-year-old backup goalkeeper has been thrust into a starting roll for Team Teal after regular starter Martin Jones went down with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Just a couple weeks ago, Dell's impressive season had many thinking he was a trade target. Now, he's grinding through three games in four nights and giving the Sharks the best chance to win. Even after giving up three goals to the Jets on Tuesday night, he held through a couple furious flurries to keep the game from getting out of hand.
So question remains: How far can the the Sharks stretch this pattern of resiliency? Thornton left Tuesday night's contest with a leg injury, and he will reportedly be out "several weeks." Losing the bearded vet is definitely a kick in the teeth, but captain Joe Pavelski remains confident that San Jose can continue to rally, even without Jumbo Joe: "We have a much better chance with him in the lineup, definitely," he said. "But if he's going to miss a little bit of time, someone's going to have to step up."
A lot of "someones" have stepped up of late, which is exactly how the Sharks have climbed up the standings. They'll need that even more as the trade deadline approaches and the sprint toward the postseason kick into high gear.
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The World Junior Summer Showcase is in full swing, and Maple Leafs top prospect Ben Danford is shattering expectations, truly proving how good of a player he can be. The Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive prospect, Ben Danford, is among the 44 players who were invited to Hockey Canada's World Juniors Summer Showcase. Hockey Canada finally unveiled the 44 prospects who will head to Minnesota for the showcase, after they held the roster release back while the organization dealt with several injuries, which begins Sunday and runs through August 2 in Minneapolis. Defensive prospect Ben Danford is the only Maple Leafs player invited to the annual showcase, where Canada's World Junior staff will get their first look at what their team might look like for the 2026 World Juniors, which will also take place in Minnesota in December. Danford is being called the best player at the World Juniors Summer Showcase Danford has been exceeding expectations, and one source revealed that he has been the best player at the World Junior Showcase so far. The source said Danford is steady, smart, and hard to ignore on the ice. 'Ben Danford has been the best player at the World Junior Showcase he's steady, smart, and impossible to ignore. Makes every shift count, whether he's breaking up plays or starting the rush. Canada's blue line is in good hands.' - An unnamed source The Maple Leafs selected Danford with their first pick (31st overall) at the 2024 NHL Draft. During his visit to Toronto's development camp earlier this month, the defender revealed that he's receiving mentorship from current Leafs defensemen as well as some alumni like Mark Giordano. The 6-foot-2 Danford could make for an excellent fit for Canada should he make the team. He is responsible in his own end, and he demonstrated leadership capabilities when he was named captain of the Oshawa Generals ahead of the 2024-25 OHL season.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. is opening eyes at training camp, including QB Geno Smith, who appears to be trusting the rookie. Maybe that is the reason why general manager John Spytek has not looked for outside help at the position. And just maybe he got a steal from the 2025 NFL Draft. That looked evident on the first day of pads in Henderson, Nevada, where Thornton badly beat fellow rookie cornerback Darien Porter for a long touchdown, as described by The Athletic's Tashan Reed. In a piece, Reed said Thornton has been the first-string "X" receiver since OTAs and "could make an immediate impact." Thornton shared what Smith told him during training camp: "He tells me every single day, 'if you've got a one-on-one matchup, I'm coming to you,'" Smith said, as shared by Reed. "It means a lot to me. Being a rookie and just getting here ... just knowing that he believes in me a lot. It gives me a lot of motivation to keep getting better." While the headlines are more on rookie RB Ashton Jeanty for his potential big season, Thornton is making sure he is not forgotten after getting selected in the fourth round (108th overall) after leading the University of Tennessee with 661 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Thornton is getting all the opportunities he can get, given the Raiders didn't bother to add a veteran WR. One could see why Thornton is raising eyebrows in training camp. That is a good thing because Smith is trusting Thornton's potential playmaking abilities. Thornton is one of the tallest Raiders WRs besides Collin Johnson, and that could be a big deal given the Raiders need a big target minus TEs Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer and Ian Thomas. Yet, ESPN's Mike Clay is projecting Thornton to have a quiet year with 317 receiving yards and a TD. With such low numbers, maybe that is how the Raiders would prefer it to be, anyway. Only the Raiders know what they have in Thornton. It is up to Thornton to keep the momentum going into preseason games and beyond.
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t wasted any time evaluating their newest talent as training camp heats up in Latrobe. With pads finally on and reps intensifying, one receiver is already turning heads. Wide receiver Roman Wilson is emerging as a name to watch not just because of his speed or hands, but because of how he’s showing up daily, both physically and mentally. The way Wilson has carried himself has drawn strong praise from those observing the camp up close. Recently, on 970 AM Fox Sports Pittsburgh, former Steelers secondary coach Tom Bradley and Gerry Dulac talked about the Steelers for an hour-long segment. Dulac started off with praise for the young wideout. “When you watch him today, he certainly plays the part well," Dulac said. "He's a guy that I think the Pittsburgh Steelers fans are gonna take a liking to in a hurry, just by the way he goes about his work. You can see why they drafted him just by the way he does things out there.” Dulac’s words offer more than just a surface-level compliment. The key here is how he emphasizes Wilson's work habits. This isn’t about raw talent, which Wilson certainly has, but rather how that talent translates into consistent, reliable effort. Wilson’s doing the small things right: route details, blocking effort, lining up properly. That’s what builds trust with coaches and earns respect from veterans. If there’s a common thread across the league, it’s that wide receivers often need time to adjust to the pro game, especially in Pittsburgh, where Mike Tomlin historically takes a measured approach with young talent, but Wilson’s effort is accelerating that timeline. The mindset is now translating to Saint Vincent College. Fans should take note not just of highlight plays but of how Wilson moves during install periods and drills. That exact attitude also stood out to the former Steelers secondary coach, Bradley, who focused more on Wilson’s internal fire: “He likes the competition,” Bradley said. “Just watching him, I think he enjoys that. You saw a little bit of that in him. I think over the course of time, I think he's gonna be one of those guys that likes to just compete.” Bradley’s observation is especially relevant for a receiver trying to prove himself on the depth chart. The Steelers’ wide receiver room remains in flux behind DK Metcalf, and with Calvin Austin III and Robert Woods still proving their roles, there’s an opportunity to be seized. That Wilson already “likes the competition” is critical. It means he’s not shying away from the challenge or waiting for an invitation. He’s embracing it. The phrase “over the course of time” also hints at sustainability. Wilson’s mentality is a long-term mindset that meshes well with the organization’s culture. His injury-shortened rookie season is well-documented, but he’s back fully healthy now, aligning with the competitive mindset that camp observers say makes him stand out. His college metrics, particularly separation rate and blocking effort, paired with the Steelers’ scheme shift under Arthur Smith, suggest he could be a reliable slot option and return contributor. Steelers' Camp Culture Built For Competitors There’s a reason Tomlin often says “iron sharpens iron.” The Steelers have cultivated a camp environment that rewards effort, not just flashes. That makes it the perfect setting for someone like Wilson, who thrives off competition and embraces the grind. This year’s camp also feels different in how intentionally the coaching staff is evaluating role players. With the offensive coordinator focused on a more balanced, physical offense, players like Wilson, who block hard, run clean routes, and don’t demand the ball, become invaluable pieces. With the first preseason game fast approaching, Wilson still has much to prove. But based on what Dulac and Bradley have already seen, he’s doing more than just surviving the early reps; he’s maximizing them. Is Wilson already carving out a role, or is it too early to tell?
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