Joe Thornton Will Play In Game 5 For San Jose Sharks

After taking a nasty hit from Raffi Torres in Game 4 of the San Jose Sharks' Western Conference Final series against the Vancouver Canucks, Sharks captain and center Joe Thornton will play in Game 5, which is an elimination game for the Sharks. Thornton left Game 4 in the third period with a shoulder injury and did not return, and additionally, he did not participate in team practice on Monday. However, Thornton is good to go for Game 5, even if he isn't 100 percent. Coach Todd McLellan explains:

"When Joe Thornton comes to you and tells you he's playing, he's playing. That can happen in exhibition season, that can happen at ... a charity game in the middle of the summer." 

I'm all for guys showing off their toughness and it's super cool that Thornton told the coach that he's ready to play even if he's not totally healthy, but McLellan's comments are a little concerning. Isn't this the sort of thing that should be left up to a doctor? Let's just hope that Thornton isn't putting himself in any kind of career-threatening danger and that he gets out of Game 5 completely healthy.