SAN JOSE – When Joe Thornton scored a goal into an open net 16:43 into the second period, the centerman pulled into a point-per-game pace for his career.
Thornton’s goal and assist helped the San Jose Sharks win a third straight game, a 5-2 nod over the visiting Dallas Stars, and open a four-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division.
After 1,044 NHL games, Thornton has 1,044 points, coming from 317 goals and 727 assists. He tops the Sharks scoring list with 43 points this season.
Coming off a 6-0 blanking of the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday that featured two-goal production in each period for the Sharks, the trend continued Thursday through two periods as San Jose came away with a 4-1 cushion.
The only mark on the San Jose defensive effort during the first 40 minutes came at 12:41 of the second period when Dallas winger Steve Ott jetted through the Shark zone to score an unassisted power play goal to leave the Sharks up 2-1.
Ott’s goal ended a franchise scoreless streak of 190:51 for San Jose.
The Sharks visit the Phoenix Coyotes Saturday night before home games next week against Calgary (Wednesday) and Chicago (Friday).
Joe Pavelski fired four shots on net in the first period as San Jose built a 15-7 edge in shots and came out of the period with a 2-0 cushion.
Center Michal Handzus was in the line of fire 4:42 into action when Brent Burns’ blistering low shot from the right point skimmed off Handzus’ leg and past goaltender Richard Bachman for the 1-0 San Jose edge.
Pavelski notched the second goal 20 seconds after Star Alex Goligoski was called for high-sticking Torrey Mitchell. Pavelski’s hard shot from the top of the slot was slowed by Star Vernon Fiddler but had enough speed to drop through the pads of Bachman for Pavelski’s 19th goal of the season at the 16:32 mark.
Once Ott ended the San Jose scoreless streak, the Sharks rebounded with two goals within the next 4:02.
Logan Couture collected his team-high 22nd goal of the year 14:59 into the second. Burns feathered a pass from the right point that allowed Couture, in the low slot, to redirect the puck past Bachman despite defensive pressure from Dallas’ Trevor Daley.
The two-goal period reached five when Thornton recorded his goal. Thornton ignited the play when he stopped in front of the Dallas net as defenseman Nicklas Grossman waited at the back of the net with the puck. When Grossman skated around the net, his clearing attempt was intercepted by Pavelski. Both Bachman and Grossman moved toward an advancing Pavelski, but the Shark dished the puck to an unmarked Thornton at the left post for the easy jam shot.
Ott assisted on Jamie Benn’s 15th goal of the year 6:22 into the third to leave the Stars down 4-2. San Jose regrouped to take a 5-2 lead at the 11:34 mark when Ryane Clowe turned a rebound of a Couture shot into his 10th goal of the season. Clowe had missed the last six games with a facial injury.
Burns finished with a season-high three points.
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