SAN JOSE — Joe Thornton’s one-punch altercation with Carolina Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek earlier this month — and his verbal jabs on the bench at Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals a few days earlier — made the rounds on social media and no doubt lifted the spirits of his teammates.
What’s been just as enjoyable from the Sharks perspective in recent days is seeing Thornton recapture some of his old playmaking form.
Going into Tuesday’s game with the Arizona Coyotes, Thornton, playing with Kevin Labanc and Tomas Hertl, has assists in consecutive games and the 17 minutes and seven seconds of ice time he had Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks was his second-most he’s played all season.