Thornton Scores Hat Trick, Sharks Defeat Devils
SAN JOSE (AP) -- Joe Thornton had his fourth career hat trick and added two assists in the San Jose Sharks' 5-2 victory over the slumping New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night.
Linemates Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley each had a goal and three assists, giving the trio 13 points in the game. Coming off a 4-0 loss Sunday night in Calgary, the Sharks (4-3-1) won for the third time in four games and for the first time in four home games.
Antero Nittymaki made 37 saves to improve to 3-0-1.
David Clarkson and Andy Greene scored for the Devils. New Jersey has lost three straight and five of its last six to drop to 2-7-1 under first-year coach John MacLean.
Thornton opened the scoring midway through the first period. Marleau bounced a pass off the boards near center ice to Heatley, who took the carom and found Thornton streaking down the center of the ice. Thornton turned and fired from inside the left circle, beating goalie Martin Brodeur.
The trio struck again 1:19 later. While Thornton and Heatley battled with two defenders along the boards behind the net, Marleau slipped in between the four players and grabbed the loose puck and turned for a wraparound goal that beat Brodeur on the right side.
Thornton made it 3-0 with 1:01 left in the period, tapping the puck past Brodeur from close range.
After Clarkson scored for New Jersey early in the second, Thornton completed the hat trick on a power play with 3:05 left in the period. Heatley sent the puck into the boards to the far left of the net, Brodeur came out to get it, but the puck caromed past him, and Thornton scored into the empty net.
Thornton set up Heatley in front of the net for San Jose's final goal at 6:47 of the third.
Greene scored on a power play with 5:38 remaining.
NOTES: Among NHL players 31 or younger at the start of the season, Thornton has the most points with 942. He also has an NHL-high 695 points since the 2002-2003 season. ... Sharks forward Joe Pavelski's wife, Sarah, gave birth to their first child, Nathan, on Tuesday night. ... Sharks wing Ryane Clowe and New Jersey defenseman Matthew Corrente had a lengthy fight late in second period.
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