Programming note: Blues-Sharks coverage starts Saturday at 7 p.m. with Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet California
SAN JOSE – Joe Thornton is probable to play against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, after he was forced from a game on Wednesday in Anaheim due to an apparent left shoulder/arm injury, per head coach Todd McLellan.
Thornton did not speak to the media on Friday, but was a full participant in practice.
“We’ll have to make a decision tomorrow on how he feels,” McLellan said. “From what I understand he feels better than I thought he would, so that’s a good sign.”
Although all indications are that Thornton will play, McLellan added: “We’ll still make a game-time decision. We won’t put him at any risk as far as making it any worse, or anything like that.”
[RELATED: Sharks' Thornton rocked vs. Ducks, leaves with injury]
Thornton, 35, leads the Sharks with 33 points. His consecutive games streak sits at 319, the third-longest streak in franchise history. It began on Nov. 11, 2010, when he returned from a two-game suspension for hitting then-Blues forward David Perron in the head.
McLellan was asked how the former captain has been able to remain so durable, even as he has advanced in age.
“Jumbo is one of the hardest working guys we have off the ice,” McLellan said. “He made a real commitment to that a number of years ago. There’s no such thing as a day off really for him. He’s in the gym, he’s training, he’s working, so he’s invested in his body.
“I think that hockey sense, and sense of what’s going on around you keeps you out of dangerous spots, too. He’s a bigger man. He’s a head above a lot of people, and that can help.”
The Sharks managed to get past the Ducks without Thornton, who left after a netural zone hit from Clayton Stoner halfway through the first period. Joe Pavelski skated as the top line center between Matt Nieto and Tomas Hertl, while the second scoring line remained the same.
Nieto was in a white sweater at Friday’s practice, so if Thornton were unable to play, Nieto would likely fill in on that top line again.
Logan Couture was pleased with the Sharks’ reaction to losing Thornton against the Ducks.
“Jumbo is obviously one of the best players in the world so when you lose someone of his caliber you need other guys to step up and play better,” Couture said, specifically mentioning forward Barclay Goodrow, who skated in Thornton’s place on the top power play unit.
“I think guys are smart enough to realize they need to pick it up and fill in his role. He plays a lot of minutes and some big minutes on the power play, so we needed some guys to step up and play those roles, and they did a good job.”
