SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – Joe Thornton and his linemates have managed to do what Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Jamie Benn couldn’t in the first two rounds of the NHL playoffs: control the play against the St. Louis Blues.
San Jose’s top line of Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl have dominated the play over the first three games of the Western Conference final and are a major reason why the Sharks lead the Blues 2-1 to put them as close as they have ever been to reaching the Stanley Cup final.
Hertl scored two goals in San Jose’s 3-0 victory in Game 3 on Thursday night off passes from each of his linemates and the trio spent much of the night in St. Louis’ zone creating chances and momentum.
“These guys in my mind are maybe the most dangerous and best line in hockey,” teammate Tommy Wingels said. “You see the way they play against world-class defensemen and some of the best players in the world. They’re able to hold onto pucks and make it a clinic out there the way they pass it around and cycle the puck. It’s contagious.”
After getting the best of Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty in round one, Nashville’s stellar defensive pair of Shea Weber and Roman Josi in the second round, the Thornton line is doing it against Alex Pietrangelo and St. Louis in the conference final.