Thornton may return
Center scratched from lineup again, but says knee responding well
EDMONTON, Alberta — Sharks center Joe Thornton was scratched for a second straight game Friday, but there are indications he’s getting closer to a return.
Well after the Sharks who dressed for Friday’s Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place had completed their morning skate, Thornton remained on the ice a little longer than he did before Game 1, saying earlier in the day that his injured left knee “responded real well.”
“It was nice. Get a little extra in there,” Thornton said. “It was good to test it a little bit more today.”
Thornton’s improvement suggests he might be able to play at some point in the series. Game 3 on Sunday would be exactly two weeks after he hurt his left knee in a game against the Vancouver Canucks on April 2, although a return for that game is no sure thing.
“Every day it seems to be getting a little better, which a good sign,” Thornton said. “I feel confident about it.”
Sharks coach Pete DeBoer has said Thornton will be the one who ultimately makes the decision on when to dress. Returning home for two games, starting with Sunday’s Game 3, the Sharks are not in a situation where they need Thornton right away.
“It’s obviously a luxury to have,” Thornton said of the Sharks coming into Friday with the series lead, “but really, I just can’t ... I’ve got to come back when I’m ready. I’ll know when I’m ready and the training staff will agree with me when I’m ready. So, it’s just a matter of time.”
Thornton skated with the other scratches Friday — forwards Micheal Haley, Kevin Labanc and defenseman Dylan DeMelo.
With Thornton out, the Sharks stayed with the same forward lines for a second straight game. The Oilers made a pair of lineup changes. Anton Slepyshev replaced Iiro Pakarinen up front and Matt Benning came in for Eric Gryba on defense.
A lot of the focus in n this series the been on Oilers captain Connor McDavid. But forward Timo Meier, drafted just a few spots behind McDavid by the Sharks in 2015, is also getting some attention.
Wednesday’s game was Meier’s first in the NHL playoffs, just like it was for McDavid. Meier, listed at 6-foot, 210 pounds, was physical on the forecheck, created scoring opportunities drew a penalty in the third period.
It’s the blueprint for how the Sharks want Meier to play against the Oilers.
“He’s a big boy,” McDavid said of Meier on Friday. “Big, stocky, skates well and he’s got a lot of skill as well. He’s a very good player.”
McDavid went No. 1 overall to Edmonton after the Oilers won the 2015 draft lottery. The Sharks were also in the lottery that season after missing the playoffs, and picked Meier ninth overall.
Meier and McDavid know each other as they played on the game team at the CHL top prospects game in 2015. They took different paths to get to this point, but Meier, with his size, is showing he can be a valuable piece of the puzzle for the Sharks.
“I’ve always liked the physical part of the game,” Meier said. “It’s not like I’m a big fighter or anything, I like to be the guy that’s hard to play against and if I have a chance to finish a hit, I’ll finish it and on the offensive side, try to use my body.”