Burns makes history, boosts Sharks’ momentum
Brent Burns does things that few have ever seen. And, in the Sharks’ two most recent games before Thursday, he did something that had never been done.
Burns became the first defenseman in NHL history to assist on all three of his team’s goals in consecutive games. He took the unique streak into Thursday night’s visit by the New York Rangers at SAP Center.
“It’s easy to get on Brent Burns when there’s a defensive miscue,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. “When you play that much, and have that much responsibility, there’s going to be mistakes made. You take what he gives you as a teammate and as a player.”
Burns is giving San Jose plenty of welcome and necessary contributions needed to keep the Sharks in the playoff hunt this season. The 36-yearold is less the riverboat gambler on the blue line that he used to be as he has refined his game to take less risk and be more accountable.
That’s why he’s playing in all situations and appearing nearly 26 minutes a game (25:57), the league’s fourth-highest average per game entering Thursday. And he entered Thursday having played a club-record 634 consecutive games, a streak that is also 11th all-time in the NHL.
“He’ll never, ever, ever short you in the work department,” Boughner said. “He’s looking to outwork everybody on every shift.”
Work is the key for Burns, acquired from Minnesota in June of 2011. His fitness level and attention to what he puts in his body is second to none. It’s why the Wild’s first-round pick of 2003 (20th overall) feels he can skate forever, even though he is often reminded to shorten shifts.
It’s also why Burns can keep his feet moving and has the energy needed to be on the ice at any time.
“Every defenseman you talk to idolizes the way he gets pucks off in the offensive zone,” Sharks goalie James Reimer said. “And he gets pucks to the net as well as any D-man in the league.”
With four goals and 26 points before Thursday, Burns led the Sharks in blue-line scoring. His 166 goals, 400 assists and 566 points were club records for defensemen. And with 749 career points, Burns was three away from cracking the top-20 in the NHL’s scoring annals for rearguards.
Before Boughner took over for Peter DeBoer, the Sharks
featured a system that, in the offensive zone, funneled the puck to the point, allowing Burns to fire away with his explosive shot. Now the team works to get offense from below the dots and the top of the circles, and Burns has had to adjust.
“Obviously he doesn’t have ( Joe Pavelski) and guys tipping pucks like he used to but he’s still finding ways to create offense for us even with the new system and different personnel,” Boughner said.
“He makes a lot of plays, and makes a lot of plays look simple,” Reimer added.
Burns is also a force off the ice, where the alternate captain provides leadership.
“He’s like a little kid in the dressing room and an easy guy to follow because of the work he puts in, how he prepares and how he keeps himself fit at his age to play those kinds of minutes,” Boughner said.
“All in all, you look at Burnsie’s piece of work, he’s had a real strong season for us so far.”