While Joe Thornton's beard continues to garner a lot of attention in these playoffs, San Jose Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer believes his play isn't getting nearly the respect it deserves.
"If this guy was playing in Toronto, Montreal or New York, he'd be a living legend," DeBoer told reporters Monday, adding that he never truly appreciated his play until taking the Sharks' coaching job this season, calling the forward an "incredibly honest player."
At age 36, Thornton continues to produce at an incredible rate, finishing tied for fourth in league scoring this season with 82 points. It was the first time he produced at a point-per-game pace since 2010.
He's also carried that success into the playoffs, recording three goals and eight assists through two rounds, trailing only All-Stars Logan Couture, Brent Burns, and Joe Pavelski on his team.
Though it shouldn't be ignored Thornton started his career in an incredible hockey market with the Boston Bruins, his consistency over the past 10 years in San Jose have gone somewhat under the radar. With 1,341 career points, the London, Ontario native trails only Jaromir Jagr among active players.
Now two games into Round 3, more than half the leg work en route to a Conn Smythe Trophy has been accomplished.
Here's how they stack up after two-plus rounds:
1) Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues
It wasn't without a hiccup, several slabs of fortune, or even brief consideration of his backup from the coaching staff, but Elliott was, without question, the most important player on his team through the first two rounds.
Excluding his forgettable 17 minutes versus the Stars in Game 6, Elliott's dazzled, sporting a .937 save clip in competition against the three highest scoring Western Conference outfits throughout the regular season, and also in the face of 100-plus shots more than any surviving goaltender.
Despite his per-game averages being slightly skewed by his four-save performance versus Dallas, he bumped his per-game standard up to 30 saves with his ninth win of the tournament in Sunday's Game 1 of the West final.
2) Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
Logan Couture and Brent Burns might sit one-two in postseason points, but the captain's contributions can't be overstated.
Before he recorded an assist in Sunday's Game 1 loss to St. Louis, the Sharks were a perfect 8-0 through two rounds when Pavelski collected at least one point (he scored in seven of those games) and 0-4 when he failed to decorate the scoresheet.
His ninth goal, which gives him a share of the postseason lead, came nine minutes into Game 7 versus the Predators, helping set the table for a blowout in the do-or-die second-round tilt.
3) Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
As menacing a sniper that remains, Kucherov's wielding talents were largely responsible for Tampa Bay having cruised into a conference final in consecutive springs.
He shares the goal-scoring lead with Pavelski, but reached nine goals in two fewer games and on a more efficient 23 percent shooting clip, and he's also provided 27 percent of his team's total offense.
4) Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins
Murray's convinced everyone - including Vegas bookies - in his first 10 starts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The 21-year-old rookie kept the now-able Marc-Andre Fleury on the bench, and helped the Penguins emerge as Stanley Cup favorites heading into Round 3 after their six-game win over the 120-point Capitals.
He authored a .925 save percentage in the second-round meeting, which included wins with 36, 39, and 49 stops.
5) Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Hedman, the Lightning's minutes eater, was sensational in the club's second straight swift advancement - a five-game triumph over the Islanders.
Three of Tampa Bay's wins saw the mountainous defender record multi-point games, including a two-goal effort in the decisive Game 5.
Logan Couture: Rewrote a 22-year-old franchise record for points in a seven-game series and seized the postseason lead with 11 versus the Predators.
Phil Kessel: Two goals and an assist on Nick Bonino's overtime winner in the preeminent single-game performance of his career, and a tie for fifth in postseason scoring.
Ben Bishop: Injured, but still statistically superior to his peers.
Brent Burns: The Sharks' rover has had a hand in 38 percent of the team's total offense.
David Backes: St. Louis' captain is tied for third in goals, and two of his league-best three game-winners have come in overtime.
Team Canada remained perfect at the World Championship by beating France 4-0 on Monday, and captain Corey Perry was a big reason why.
During the third period, the Anaheim Ducks forward's attempt to put the puck between his legs ended up finding the stick of Ryan O'Reilly, who promptly returned it to Perry as he outmuscled French blue-liner Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel on the way to his goal.
With an assist earlier in the game, Perry now leads the Canadian team with 10 points for the tournament.
Moments after telling the media it would "have to wait and see" if the captain will suit up versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, Stamkos admitted he won't be in the lineup.
Stamkos also clarified comments he made Sunday, stating he's remained on the same injectable form of blood-thinning medication since his April 4 surgery. On Sunday, he told reporters he and the Lightning medical staff had been experimenting with an injectable treatment that's believed to have helped Kimmo Timonen return from the same condition last season.
It's unclear if the dosage has been altered.
He also cautioned there are no guarantees he'll return in these playoffs.
As reported earlier in the month, Florida Panthers executive vice president and general manager Dale Tallon has officially been promoted to president of hockey operations, the team announced Monday.
"This is a great day for the organization as it ensures continuity within the hockey operations department," Panthers owner Vincent Viola said. "I have the utmost confidence in Dale's vision and leadership and this group's ability to build on this year's playoff appearance and make the Panthers a Stanley Cup contender for years to come."
Tallon will continue to oversee all scouting, player acquisitions, and development, but all decisions on trades, signings, and draft picks will be done by committee.
This group will include three men who also received promotions Monday - general manager Tom Rowe and assistant GMs Eric Joyce and Steve Werier.
"I'm looking forward to continuing to work with Tom, Eric and Steve," Tallon said. "Our organization took a big step forward this season and these moves made in hockey operations continue to strengthen the future of our front office."
Tallon began serving as the team's general manager in 2010.
Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning's medical staff are testing a new method of treatment that could help spur on his return to the lineup.
The captain's switched to an injectable form of the blood-thinning medication he's been required to take after having surgery to repair a blood clot near his right collarbone in early April.
Using this method, Stamkos could return to the lineup while still receiving the assistance of blood thinners.
"There have been guys that have played in this league who are on it," Stamkos told Postmedia's Mike Zeisberger on Sunday.
Stamkos said that Kimmo Timonen, who went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, used this method last season with the Philadelphia Flyers when first returning from his bout with blood clots.
"I think for me, too, even just being able to read articles like that and know guys have done that puts your mind at ease a little bit," Stamkos said.
He isn't expected to be in the lineup Monday when the Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins square off in Game 2.
The offensive outburst concluded a round that saw the 27-year-old set a franchise record with 11 points in one series.
However, while Couture has been one of the many players who've risen to the occasion by turning in monstrous playoff performances, the fact is many of the league's best have not.
Through two rounds, many of the clubs that have bowed out of the postseason did so with little pushback from their key contributors.
Here are five players who've turned in disappointing performances in the 2016 playoffs:
Filip Forsberg
While much of the talk following the Predators' Game 7 loss to the Sharks was directed toward captain Shea Weber, the fact is the team's regular-season points-leader was invisible in the playoffs.
After pacing the team with 33 goals and 64 points during the regular season, Forsberg managed just two goals and two assists in 14 games. He also recorded just two points at even strength.
Jaromir Jagr
While Jaromir Jagr mystified the hockey world this season, leading the Florida Panthers with 66 points, it appears his age caught up with him in the playoffs.
The 44-year-old could muster just two assists in his team's six-game series against the New York Islanders, bringing an end to a feel-good season.
What's more disappointing was that he extended his playoff goalless skid to 37 games, giving him just 20 points in his last 39 playoff games.
Kari Lehtonen/Antti Niemi
It's no secret what the Dallas Stars' biggest weakness was this postseason.
The team's two goaltenders both failed to rise to the occasion when it mattered most. The Stars gave up 3.23 goals per game - the third-worst mark of the postseason and worst of any team to make it past the first round.
Kari Lehtonen posted a 2.81 GAA and a .899 save percentage, while Antti Niemi was even worse with 3.29 and .865 marks.
Pavel Datsyuk
We may have seen the last of Pavel Datsyuk in the NHL.
The Magic Man has hinted at a return to Russia to play in the KHL and this postseason may have been our last look at the magician in a Detroit Red Wings uniform.
Unfortunately, he failed to marvel the hockey world one last time. As his team bowed out to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, Datsyuk went pointless.
Eric Staal
Eric Staal was arguably the most sought-after player at the trade deadline, and for what?
The 31-year-old managed just 10 goals and 33 points with the Carolina Hurricanes before being dealt to the New York Rangers. Upon joining the Blueshirts on Broadway, Staal managed just six points in 20 regular-season contests.
Staal's play didn't improve in the postseason, as he went pointless in five games, managing just five shots on goal and a minus-7 rating.
King Henrik subsequently had his worst playoff outing since his rookie campaign in 2006, posting a playoff-worst 4.39 GAA and .867 save percentage as the Rangers lost in the opening round for the first time since 2011.
Following his beard-pulling battle with San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton during Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, David Backes gave an entertaining explanation as to what happened during the first period.
"Just seeing whose is real and making sure that they were glued on well," the St. Louis Blues captain joked, per NHL.com's Lou Korac. "It seemed like both checked out and we moved on with life."
In the end, Backes said this is all part of what will be a tough, competitive series.
"We love the competition and get the emotions running high," he continued. "Both guys are trying to establish themselves in this series and here's a couple big bodies going at it and you love that competition."
After the Blues went on to take the series opener 2-1, Thornton and his beard will look for revenge in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Latest speculation on the Red Wings and Islanders plus updates on Brayden Schenn and Andrew Ference. Islanders and Red Wings NEWSDAY: Arthur Staple recently reported on the state of the New York Islanders three goaltenders. Oft-injured starter Jaroslav Halak missed considerable time this past season and could face offseason sports hernia surgery. He’s also […]
Blues defeat Sharks, Conn Smythe Trophy candidates and more in today’s collection of notable NHL morning headlines. STLTODAY.COM/THE MERCURY NEWS: Brian Elliott made 31 saves (16 in the second period) to backstop the St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. David Backes […]
