SAN JOSE – Joe Thornton’s night ended a bit prematurely against St. Louis on Saturday in a 4-0 Sharks loss.
The top line center was issued a five-minute major and game misconduct for spearing the Blues’ Paul Stastny at 11:09 of the second period. The two players came together near center ice, when Thornton jammed the blade of his stick into Stastny’s midsection.
It was the ninth time Thornton has received a game misconduct in his career, and first since Nov. 4, 2010. That was also against the Blues, when he hit David Perron during a game in St. Louis, resulting in a concussion for the St. Louis forward and a two-game suspension for Thornton.
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Stastny gave his take on the play after the game.
"I've battled against him a few times, and sometimes guys get angry if you get in their way or give them a crosscheck,” he said. “But, it's an obvious call. It's a dangerous play.”
It was unclear what Stastny did to provoke Thornton, who wasn’t available to talk to reporters after the game. Stastny said he didn’t do anything that he “wouldn't normally do to anyone."
Was he surprised at Thornton’s reaction?
San Jose Sharks
“You're surprised when anyone does it. Part of the game sometimes. It happens. Emotions get high. Just happy that we won. Take him out of the game, and it makes that team a little less dangerous than they are normally.”
Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said he hadn’t seen a replay of what happened immediately after the game.
Logan Couture didn’t seem to have a problem with it being a penalty, although he indicated that perhaps it wasn’t worthy of a major.
“If it’s going to be a five, I think he could have hit him a lot harder,” Couture said. “I don’t think it was worthy of a five-minute, but they’re trying to protect players. Any time there’s a spear, I agree with the call.”
“I think the refs called a good game. They let some stuff go and they called the penalties that needed to be called.”