The San Jose Sharks may have lost Game 5 of the Western Conference Final to the Vancouver Canucks. Their season might be over and a feeling of what could have been might be wafting through the air in the Bay Area on this day-after.
Sharks Vs. Canucks, Game 5: Joe Thornton Played With Separated Shoulder
One thing is for sure, though: Joe Thornton can't have any regrets. The Sharks captain left everything on the ice on Tuesday night, and while we knew he had an ailing shoulder prior to the game, we didn't know just how bad it was.
“I just separated my shoulder last game, that’s it,” Thornton said after Game 5. “It was sore, but no excuses.”
Thornton put in 32:15 of ice time, behind on Patrick Marleau on the Sharks for the game, who finished with 32:58. He led all players with seven shots on goal and, incredibly, he also won 56 percent of his face-offs (with a separated shoulder!). He'll probably ponder the lost draw in the defensive end with about 25 seconds left in the third, because if he wins that and the Sharks control the puck, we're probably talking about Game 6.
But, that’s hockey. Thornton has nothing to be ashamed of after that performance.
For more on the NHL’s Western Conference Final, check in with our Sharks vs. Canucks series hub, as well as our blogs: Fear The Fin covering the Sharks and Nucks Misconduct covering the Canucks. You can find more local coverage at SB Nation Bay Area and Battle of California.
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