By Allan Muir, SI.com
Hard not to slide the goat horns onto the head of Sharks defensemen Christian Ehrhoff in the wake of Tuesday night's 2-1 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.
It was Ehrhoff, after all, who took the third-period penalty that put the Stars on a five-on-three power play, an advantage that allowed Sergei Zubov to knot the game at one.
It was Ehrhoff who hooked Niklas Hagman to the ice on a breakaway minutes later, giving the Stars winger a penalty shot that could have turned the tide of the game. Fortunately, Evgeni Nabokov was up to the challenge.
And it was Ehrhoff who, under no immediate pressure, iced the puck in the extra frame, keeping a tired group of defenders on duty while Dallas imported fresh troops. Even after coach Ron Wilson called a timeout to buy some time for his winded guys, the Stars top line made short work of them, moving the puck at will until Mattias Norstrom connected on a point blast that sailed over Nabokov's shoulder for the game-winner.
No need to be kind. It was a brutal game for Ehrhoff. But don't think for a second that the Sharks find themselves down 3-0 in this series because of some faulty German engineering.
Ehrhoff is a third-pairing defenseman. A bit player. This isn't, and never was, his series to win or lose. This is the time of year for a team's best players to be its best players.
And with the disappointing Sharks on the brink of elimination, there's one obvious question: Where the hell is Joe Thornton?
In a game that San Jose absolutely had to win, Gentle Joe was a non-entity. An empty sweater.
Invisible.
This was no aberration, either. The line on Joe's line through three games: One point.
Somewhere, in a large East Coast metropolis, fans familiar with Thornton's postseason woes are nodding sympathetically.
They've seen this disappearing act before.
To be fair, the Gentle One was fine in the opening round against an inferior opponent from Calgary. At least, he offered up sufficient energy to justify his minutes, and the hope that he could raise his game against Dallas. But the Stars aren't an inferior opponent. They not only match up to San Jose talent-wise, they're a disciplined, determined bunch. They succeed because they're hard to play against. They force you to earn every inch of ice.
Those are not conditions under which Thornton historically has thrived. But his Game 3 performance was shocking even to long-time observers.
On a night when his team needed him in MVP mode to salvage the season, he launched just two shots, both from long distance, at Marty Turco. Neither attempt came in the third period or the overtime, when desire was a more valuable commodity than talent.
And on a night when the Sharks finally responded to Wilson's plea for a more physical performance, Jumbo Joe was one of just three white shirts not to register a single hit. Not once did he put himself in a position to use that 6-4, 235 frame to exact a toll from the Stars. Worse, he was a target throughout the evening. Jere Lehtinen hit him. Brenden Morrow hit him. Mark Fistric hit him.
No response.
It's one thing not to score. It's another thing entirely to be disengaged from the battle. And Thornton, who looks like an oversized boy among combat-hardened men like Morrow and Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards, was not engaged.
But here's the thing: the playoffs provide ample opportunity for redemption. Thornton only needs look to Dallas' Turco for evidence of that.
For the Sharks to send this series back to San Jose, his path has to begin tonight. Not with a big game. Make it a big shift. And make it early. A big goal or a look-at-that assist would be nice, but a display of grim determination, a real sense of purpose, could be just as effective.
But don't stop there. Follow it up with another purposeful shift. And another. For 60 minutes, or however long it takes to prove to himself and his teammates that he's unwilling to go quietly into that good night.
To a man, the Dallas Stars have been doing just that. For this series to be extended, San Jose's star to show the same mettle.
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Comments (13) Add A Comment
The San Jose Sharks are a SOFT team PERIOD!!!! You can never trust the Sharks in a big game. Joe Thornton is the A-Rod of the NHL. Great regular season stats, but shaky performances in the clutch in the playoffs.
YDT8523
Flushing , NY
Total Comments (103)
For all the talk about Detroit being soft, why haven't people applied this label to San Jose until this season? They are among the top 3-4 teams in the league in terms of talent, but what have they done to deserve all the praise they have gotten all season? Every single analyst on Versus and almost every single writer I've read picked San Jose to win the Stanley Cup and Detroit to lose in the 2nd round. How is that looking now? Last season Detroit's downfall was the numerous injuries to defensemen (Kronwall and Schneider were both out against Anaheim), and still they were a couple of minutes away from being in the Finals. Detroit again looks like the team to beat, and Dallas/Detroit should be a great series, because we will have to see if Turco can overcome his issues in Joe Louis. When Dallas beat Detroit there last time, it was in the middle of Detroit's long losing streak.
The Winged Wolverine
Total Comments (131)
No offense to Allan Muir... while Joe didn't show up (and I don't particularly care because I'm a Red Wings fan), this article is stupid macho crap. Horrible. That he disappeared on offense is one thing, but who gives a damn that some other guys checked him? Oh wow, they hit him, and he didn't hit them back, he must be a little boy among big, burly men with large wangs! What a complete failure! It's not Thornton's freaking job to hit people, it's to cause havoc and put pucks in the goal. Challenge his lack of nerve, but insulting his manhood, or whatever, is cheesy, cheap, and homophobic.
Sorry, but I hate stupid thug hockey. Give me a Red Wings / Pens cup final, I want to see some real hockey.
ManuteBolSuperfan
Ithaca , NY
Total Comments (59)
Ehrhoff and Murray were the best Sharks defenseman this year, watch more than the playoffs Allan. And just an FYI, he came back after three games with a lower leg injury. He is not playing 100%.
large_elvis
Mountain View , CA
Total Comments (1)
To ManutBol Superfan - WAKE UP! Throwing a bodycheck is not a macho or thug move, it's hockey! A guy Thornton's size shouldn't be pushed around by little guys, and if he's getting pushed around it's time to stand up for yourself.So you like the Pens and Wings, does that mean you change the channel when Roberts, Laraque, Draper come on the screen? Hockey is a physical sport and if you can't handle it, go home. The writer din't advocate Joe using his stick or hitting from behind, but shying away from Brendan Morrow will not get you closer to the net where goals are scored. And yes the Red Wings are soft - what have they done since Scotty Bowman stopped coaching? Or since Yzerman retired? Lots of regular season wins and playoff flameouts! Skill and physical play are what make hockey great, and Joe only shows half that equation, and only during the regular season.
Naitch17
Total Comments (3)
I didn't say absolutely anything about hitting being bad or hockey not being physical. Go re-read my post. What I said is very clear: Thornton is not a thug player. He's big, he can take hits, and if he were scoring goals no one would note that he didn't waste his time hitting guys back just because they checked him.
Muir's blog is chock full of machismo crap... saying Thornton is "firing blanks" like a boy among "hardened" men. Come on. I think it's idiotic that Muir would suggest that in order to break his scoring slump, he should start hitting people back. Yeah, checking a few guys and getting into the penalty box is really going to get his stick going. Or maybe that's what Muir is hoping for?
ManuteBolSuperfan
Ithaca , NY
Total Comments (59)
Great article. I've supported Thornton through many of his postseason struggles, but enough is enough. I understand offensive players can go through a rough scoring stretch, but for Thornton not be engaged in the forecheck is ludicrous. Even with another player wearing the C on his shirt, Thornton is for all intensive purposes the leader of this team. And he needs to step up.
TheDeity
Shelbyville, IN
Total Comments (389)
What a crock of crap...why are you bagging on Jumbo Joe when there are 30 other guys on this team that should be looking in the mirror and asking some tough questions. The Stars are playing great defensive hockey and standing the Sharks up (4 wide) at their blue line. The only option is to chip it deep and Dallas is doing a great job in the corners on puck retrieval if Turco isn't getting there first.
Almost every mistake the Sharks have made in this series has found the back of their net. The ridiculus quick whistle (come on ref...make an attempt to get in position to see the puck & make the proper call) cost the Sharks a goal, the game and a huge opportunity to get back into this series. Stop hanging this 2nd round debacle on Thornton. There is plenty of blame to go around including the NHL officiating!
If ever there was a team that can come back from a 3-0 deficit...the Sharks are very capable. Don't forget they were undefeated in the month of March. Find that good mojo and get this thing back to San Jose. Chum
Kruegs
Livermore , CA
Total Comments (1)
Sharks have played like they are trying not to be forced into a PK situation. Instead of leading off with a hit and following up on that momentum nearly every guy is playing not to make a mistake. Sure Patty has been fairly active and cheech, roenick, pavelski and even Milan in the last game have had some jump, but they have NO swagger in their game. Its the question of heart and the overused "grit" that they lack. I watched Thornton throw away the puck over and over all season at the blueline and only in this last game did Drew scream at him. I can't stand Calgary, but a dose of Iginla's guts and agression sure might free Thornton up to use his skill. I'm all for Roenick, Pavelski and Mitchell leading the way with their energy...use em' Ron, don't hide em behind your sleepy superstars.
DIE7Z
Tracy , CA
Total Comments (10)
As much as I think Joe Thornton is an excellent hockey player it would appear that his game during the long arduous season is not suited for the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is shocking because he has all the tools required to be an absolute stud. The legends of the game are just that because they elevate their game and pay the ultimate price with every drop of sweat and blood in order to gain that immortal prize. Let's remember people that these guys don't get a pay cheque for the play-offs. The pay cheque comes in June for that group of guys that has one 16 games after the regular season ends. It's been 10 years since Joe came into the league. I am beginning to doubt that he ever had or ever will have the ability to put a team on his shoulders and carry them to the promised land..
BMat
Total Comments (1)
deity: "intensive purposes"? it's "for all intents and purposes," ya rube...
2brixshy
Austin , TX
Total Comments (4)
Thornton really needs to step up his game. He really should be one of the elite power forwards in the NHL, but he hasn't shown that. As much as I hate Forsberg, that guy is what Thornton should be, a playmaker. A guy that can punish you on both ends of the ice. Forsberg may be injury prone, but he has two Stanley Cups. Until Thornton raises his level of play, San Jose won't get any.
The Winged Wolverine
Total Comments (131)
Be proud of yourself. You completely side step my argument to point out one grammar mistake. Go pat yourself on the back, ya dolt.
TheDeity
Shelbyville, IN
Total Comments (389)
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