Joe Thornton's nickname is "Jumbo" for a reason. He's a big dude. That's why is was so bizarre to see a much smaller Nazem Kadri drop the gloves with San Jose's big centerman seconds into last nights 3-2 shootout loss in Toronto.
Kadri and Thornton were jawing with each other before the puck ever dropped and it didn't take long for the verbal swashbuckling to erupt into fisticuffs. The fight was short lived and perhaps the best part of it was a very large tuft of Joe's beard laying all alone on the ice.
The Maple Leafs center grabbed a hold of Thornton's beard before being tossed to the ground like a rag doll.
San Jose (21-12-5) got its goals from Brendon Dillon and Chris Tierney and out shot Toronto 35-28 when all was said and done. The loss also snapped a ten game winning streak against the Leafs.
San Jose found a way to earn at least a point to remain even with Anaheim (also lost in SO) in points. The Sharks get can back in the win column tonight against the Ottawa Senators.
The Sens are one of the NHL's biggest disappointments at 12-17-9. They've lost two in a row and have just three wins in their last 10 games. These are two very attainable points.
Thanks for reading, Steve