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San Jose Sharks Blogger •
Joe Thornton is one of the most fascinating players in the National Hockey League, because once the playoffs roll around you never know which one you're going to get: Jumbo Joe or Dumbo Joe. We've seen both of them in San Jose's last two games; absolute polar opposites in effort, attitude and production.
Dumbo Joe is the one that usually shows up during the playoffs. That's not saying Thornton is dumb at all, in fact he's very intelligent and well-spoken, but there are times he resembles the Disney character, lacking confidence in himself and failing to provide the effort to match his incredible talents. The superstar center was flat-out terrible during San Jose's 4-0 loss in Game 4 on Thursday night, and the point was driven home by media outlets from coast to coast with video evidence, negative commentary and scathing columns.
If the dismal effort wasn't bad enough, Thornton skipped out on the media afterward, failing to answer a single question. It might be difficult to question a player's leadership at times, but it's pretty easy when he figuratively disappears on the ice and then literally disappears from the locker room, refusing to answer to the media. The Boston Bruins became fed up with Thornton, trading him to San Jose during the 2005-06 season, and it appeared San Jose was headed in the same direction during the offseason. Suddenly, the Sharks were trailing the Ducks 3-1 in their best-of-seven series and every finger was pointed in Thornton's direction.
How would he respond? That was the question everyone asked heading into Game 5 on Saturday night. Not only were the Sharks facing elimination, they were trying to avoid becoming the first Presidents' Trophy winners to lose a first-round playoff series in fewer than six games. If they lost, everyone would share in the blame, from management right through to those playing three shifts a night, but Thornton was going to take the brunt of it. Not only did the Sharks need a victory, but Thornton needed to make a statement. He had to prove he could deliver with the game, and the season, on the line.
Jumbo Joe showed up on Saturday night. He had fire. He had passion. He had grit and drive and heart and everything else he's been accused of lacking for years. Thornton produced the first three-point playoff game of his career, silencing every critic by coming through when a stumbling franchise needed him the most. He was yapping before the opening faceoff, kicked off the scoring with a strong power play effort, and capped the game by setting up the overtime winner. You couldn't ask for anything more. Hockey is a team game, but those teams are led by individuals, and Thornton strapped the desperate bunch to his back and took them on a memorable ride Saturday night
Thornton showed his leadership, making everyone around him better and sending the series back to Anaheim for Game 6 on Monday night. He can sit back and relax for a moment, savoring the success and enjoying the spotlight rather than running from it. He finally came through with his back against the wall. He was finally the best player on the ice during a must-win game, and that remarkable effort will surely help improve Thornton's tarnished reputation.
However, the great ones do it consistently, and if Thornton had produced that effort earlier in the series maybe the Sharks wouldn't be clinging to their playoff lives against an eight seed. He's not the only one to blame, and he's not the only one to praise, but he's the one everyone will look to heading into Game 6. Can he do it again? Can he deliver the same effort we saw in Game 5? If Jumbo Joe shows up again, this could be a series after all. If Dumbo Joe shows up, expect the trade talk to continue as the Sharks look to pick up the pieces of their shattered season.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
Dumbo Joe is the one that usually shows up during the playoffs. That's not saying Thornton is dumb at all, in fact he's very intelligent and well-spoken, but there are times he resembles the Disney character, lacking confidence in himself and failing to provide the effort to match his incredible talents. The superstar center was flat-out terrible during San Jose's 4-0 loss in Game 4 on Thursday night, and the point was driven home by media outlets from coast to coast with video evidence, negative commentary and scathing columns.
If the dismal effort wasn't bad enough, Thornton skipped out on the media afterward, failing to answer a single question. It might be difficult to question a player's leadership at times, but it's pretty easy when he figuratively disappears on the ice and then literally disappears from the locker room, refusing to answer to the media. The Boston Bruins became fed up with Thornton, trading him to San Jose during the 2005-06 season, and it appeared San Jose was headed in the same direction during the offseason. Suddenly, the Sharks were trailing the Ducks 3-1 in their best-of-seven series and every finger was pointed in Thornton's direction.
How would he respond? That was the question everyone asked heading into Game 5 on Saturday night. Not only were the Sharks facing elimination, they were trying to avoid becoming the first Presidents' Trophy winners to lose a first-round playoff series in fewer than six games. If they lost, everyone would share in the blame, from management right through to those playing three shifts a night, but Thornton was going to take the brunt of it. Not only did the Sharks need a victory, but Thornton needed to make a statement. He had to prove he could deliver with the game, and the season, on the line.
Jumbo Joe showed up on Saturday night. He had fire. He had passion. He had grit and drive and heart and everything else he's been accused of lacking for years. Thornton produced the first three-point playoff game of his career, silencing every critic by coming through when a stumbling franchise needed him the most. He was yapping before the opening faceoff, kicked off the scoring with a strong power play effort, and capped the game by setting up the overtime winner. You couldn't ask for anything more. Hockey is a team game, but those teams are led by individuals, and Thornton strapped the desperate bunch to his back and took them on a memorable ride Saturday night
Thornton showed his leadership, making everyone around him better and sending the series back to Anaheim for Game 6 on Monday night. He can sit back and relax for a moment, savoring the success and enjoying the spotlight rather than running from it. He finally came through with his back against the wall. He was finally the best player on the ice during a must-win game, and that remarkable effort will surely help improve Thornton's tarnished reputation.
However, the great ones do it consistently, and if Thornton had produced that effort earlier in the series maybe the Sharks wouldn't be clinging to their playoff lives against an eight seed. He's not the only one to blame, and he's not the only one to praise, but he's the one everyone will look to heading into Game 6. Can he do it again? Can he deliver the same effort we saw in Game 5? If Jumbo Joe shows up again, this could be a series after all. If Dumbo Joe shows up, expect the trade talk to continue as the Sharks look to pick up the pieces of their shattered season.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
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