Joe Thornton scored two goals and added two assists to lead the
San Jose Sharks past the Montreal Canadiens 6-4 Monday at sold-out
HP Pavilion.
Joe Thornton scored two goals and added two assists to lead the San Jose Sharks past the Montreal Canadiens 6-4 Monday at sold-out HP Pavilion.
San Jose, winner of five straight to conclude an eight-game road trip, never trailed while improving to 82 points after 66 games. The Sharks entertain the Ottawa Senators Wednesday before beginning a three-game road trip Friday in Chicago.
San Jose remains in third place in the Pacific Division, fifth in the Western Conference after the Anaheim Ducks (83 points) defeated Ottawa 3-1 Monday.
Newcomers Jody Shelley and Brian Campbell each scored their first goal as a Shark as the hosts claimed a sixth straight win.
Shelley bagged a 50-footer from the left point 16:36 into the second period for a 4-3 Sharks lead.
Jonathan Cheechoo deked around former Shark Josh Gorges to deposit a goal 3:25 into the third period for a 5-3 advantage. The Canadiens responded with a goal at 4:18 when Maxin Lapierre completed a 2-on-1 rush by pulling the puck around the right post and under goalie Evgeni Nabokov to make it 5-4.
Campbell used a spinarama move in the high slot before backhanding a 15-footer into the back of the net for a 6-4 final.
“You don’t see guys pull off that move every day,” said Thornton of Campbell’s artistic scoring move.
“What a way for him to introduce himself to our fans,” added coach Ron Wilson. “Plays like that make you look like a smarter coach.”
The teams combined for three goals within the first 2:46 of play, then settled down to escape the first period even at 2-2.
Patrick Marleau scored 56 seconds into the action for his 11th goal of the campaign. The Sharks captain accepted a soft pass from center Devin Setoguchi on a 3-on-2 rush, then dipped around the Montreal defense before beating goalie Carey Price with a backhander from point-blank range.
The Habs responded with a goal at 2:22. Montreal earned a face-off in the Sharks zone after a San Jose icing. The visitors needed just five seconds to draw even at 1-1 when Tomas Plekanec stuffed home a rebound past Nabokov.
The scoring frenzy continued 24 seconds later when Thornton scored for a 2-1 Sharks edge. Thornton controlled the puck behind the Montreal net as Price tumbled to the ice reacting to a Sharks shot attempt. Thornton banged the puck off Price’s arm and into the net for his 18th goal of the season.
Montreal tied the score at 17:27 when rookie defenseman Ryan O’Byrne rocketed a shot from the high slot for his first career goal.
“Both teams had an incredible amount of energy,” said Wilson. “That made for a fun game.”
Thornton, 10th in the NHL in scoring entering play, responded with another goal 5:04 into the second period on a power play. Thornton’s initial try to break the tie ended 10 seconds earlier when a shot from the right circle dribbled past Price before stopping on the goal line. San Jose regained control and Thornton did not miss again, sending a 40-foot slapshot through Price’s pads.
Montreal pulled into a 3-3 tie when Plekanec tapped home a 10-footer from inside the left circle off a feed from Alex Kovalev.
