Joe Thornton didn't lead the Sharks in points in the first round. Hell, Thornton's three points put him in a tie with Joonas Donskoi for sixth amongst San Jose skaters. Still, Thornton's incredible possession play proved key, again, as the Sharks thoroughly handled their biggest rivals in the first round of the playoffs.
After San Jose lost game three, much was said about the Sharks' need for contributions from players not named Joe. Getting scoring from all four lines is on every team's wishlist, but the reality for San Jose is that Thornton needs to be their engine.