SAN JOSE — William Shakespeare couldn’t have penned a more poetic storyline.
Coming off two major-knee surgeries at age 39, Joe Thornton recorded his first hat trick since Oct. 27, 2010, scoring the apparent game winner against the team that traded him away to San Jose 13 years ago late in the third period.
The crowd at SAP Center erupted. Hats flew on the ice. Thornton raised his arms in joy, lighting up the tank with a huge smile from the Sharks bench.
Alas, the fairy tale was just a little too perfect for reality.
With 1:49 left in the third, Boston Bruins forward Chris Wagner tied the game under controversial circumstances, letting the air out of the building.