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Post by Pam on Nov 11, 2002 19:17:36 GMT -5
is back tonight!! ;D The Sharks aren't the only ones to miss him. It has been boring without him. The most exciting games for me since the Season started was when the Oilers and Canucks were in SJ. www.sjsharks.com/sharks/news/20021111-1037046030.htmScott Thornton Ready To Return To The Line-Up Against New York The San Jose Sharks will get a welcome boost to their team Monday night when they faceoff against the New York Rangers. Left wing Scott Thornton will play his first regular season game after a preseason shoulder procedure put him on the shelf. Thornton's last NHL game was game seven against Colorado in the 2002 Western Conference Semifinals. "It's been a long time," said Thornton. "I haven't played since the playoffs last year." Team Teal's second leading goal scorer a year ago, will not try to be Superman in his first game back. "I just want to go out there and get the first few shifts in," said Thornton. "I just want to go out there and keep it simple." Thornton will slide back alongside Mike Ricci and Niklas Sundstrom, reuniting the best line in hockey. "I'm confident playing with them," said Thornton. "I don't have many worries because they will back me up if I make a mistake." Thornon's teammates are happy to get their power forward back on the ice. "It's great," said Ricci. "He is a big part of our team. We just can't say he is back and then hope everything is all right. We have to be better at everything and help him out." The timing of Thornton's return is perfect considering it is the last home game until November 30. "This is his training camp so I wanted it to be a home game," said Sharks Head Coach Darryl Sutter. "It is better playing tonight going into the long trip." Besides the goals and strength, there is an often-overlooked reason that Sutter is happy about the return. "We miss his goals and his power, but we also miss his speed," said Sutter. "He is one of our fastest players. He also plays left wing and it is a position we don't have much depth at. Sundstrom and Harvey have had to play out of position and you can't expect a guy to excel when that happens." Lineup changes will likely include Owen Nolan moving back with Vincent Damphousse. |
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Post by MPLABBE on Nov 11, 2002 19:19:15 GMT -5
''Thornton will slide back alongside Mike Ricci and Niklas Sundstrom, reuniting the best line in hockey. ''  ''Lineup changes will likely include Owen Nolan moving back with Vincent Damphousse.'' who was Nolan playing with? and who was replacing ''Thorny'' on the Ricci line? |
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Post by Pam on Nov 11, 2002 19:31:41 GMT -5
''Thornton will slide back alongside Mike Ricci and Niklas Sundstrom, reuniting the best line in hockey. '' ''Lineup changes will likely include Owen Nolan moving back with Vincent Damphousse.'' who was Nolan playing with? and who was replacing ''Thorny'' on the Ricci line? Sutter changed the lines around a few times to try and get a winning combination. He finally put Nolan on 3rd line and left him there because he seemed to work on that line better than anyone else Sutter tried on 3rd line. Cheechoo was on 1st line with Damphousse a lot of the time. Sunny and Ricci work best with Scott on their line. They have the best chemistry, enhance each other's strengths, and strengthen each other's weaknesses. Both of them have missed Scott on the line, and the whole team has missed him in the lineup. |
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Post by MPLABBE on Nov 11, 2002 19:35:59 GMT -5
Don't take this wrong, but Sutter is such an overated coach. He has much more talent than their record shows(not only this year...the last few years as well)
This should be his lineup
Sturm-Damphousse-Nolan
Graves-Marleau-Selanne
Thornton-Ricci-Sundstrom
Bradley-Harvey-Cheechoo
great balance on every line IMO
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Post by Pam on Nov 11, 2002 19:44:15 GMT -5
Don't take this wrong, but Sutter is such an overated coach. He has much more talent than their record shows(not only this year...the last few years as well) This should be his lineup Sturm-Damphousse-Nolan Graves-Marleau-Selanne Thornton-Ricci-Sundstrom Bradley-Harvey-Cheechoo great balance on every line IMO Marc, the one you listed is Sutter's usual lineup. Sutter only adjusts it for three reasons: 1) injuries 2) unsigned player(s) 3) The regular line is losing too many games so he tweaks it for a game or two to help the chemisty get back in the lines. I didn't like Sutter the first 2 or so seasons he was here. He was too intense, too moody and too many times he chose the wrong time to chew team butt, but the middle of his 3rd season in SJ he started coming around. He started smiling, used a different tactic to chew butt, and that's when the team turned around. I think he is doing an okay job in San Jose. True the team has some good players now, but if it wasn't for Sutter's coaching they wouldn't have won the Division last season. I'm getting to the point where I think he is a better coach than Pat Quinn. |
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Post by MPLABBE on Nov 11, 2002 19:52:24 GMT -5
they are? well my mistake..but sometimes Graves is with Damphousse and sometimes Nolan is with Marleau right? |
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Post by Pam on Nov 11, 2002 20:11:39 GMT -5
they are? well my mistake..but sometimes Graves is with Damphousse and sometimes Nolan is with Marleau right? Yeah, this season, because Scott has been out. He wasn't in Training Camp (injury in August) and only played in 1 Pre Season game at the beginning of Pre Season and was injured again in that 1 game (I think he returned to the game too soon from that August injury). Sutter moved them around to see who would work best with Ricci and Sunny. Last season once in a while for the line shakeup I mentioned. |
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Post by 24andcounting on Nov 11, 2002 20:50:51 GMT -5
Good article Pam...although I'm not sure I agree with the "best line in hockey" statement.
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Post by MPLABBE on Nov 11, 2002 20:56:18 GMT -5
yeah I think Mario has something to say about that ;D
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Post by montreal on Nov 11, 2002 23:37:42 GMT -5
Good article Pam...although I'm not sure I agree with the "best line in hockey" statement. Well either they meant to say best 3rd line in hockey or they should have meant it. They are one heck of a 3rd line, I would say one of the best for sure. |
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Post by Pam on Nov 12, 2002 2:41:36 GMT -5
Good article Pam...although I'm not sure I agree with the "best line in hockey" statement. They were known around the League last year as being one of the best lines in the NHL. Sutter doesn't like to put "numbers" on a line and call them 1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line, 4th line. Lots of times Sutter takes the hottest line and makes them the 1st line. Last season, many times the Ricci-Thornton-Sundstrom line was the 1st line instead of the 3rd line, even though they are the 3rd line. Once Scott has been back for a few games and gets warmed up, I'm anxious to see if they can be as good a line as they were last season. Scott didn't have much ice time tonight but I enjoyed watching him. He only had 3+ minutes ice time in Period 1, but as the game progressed he had a little more ice time by Period 3. The Sharks next Home Game is on November 30 against the Coyotes (I'm taking my daughter and 2 grandsons to that game). I can hardly wait to see Scott at home again to see how he is progressing since he missed Training Camp and the first 14 games of the season. |
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Post by Pam on Nov 12, 2002 2:44:34 GMT -5
Well either they meant to say best 3rd line in hockey or they should have meant it. They are one heck of a 3rd line, I would say one of the best for sure. Yeah, they are considered the best 3rd line. The Sharks didn't call it the best 3rd line in that article because of what Sutter says about "numbers" on a line (what I told 24andcounting). The League called them the best 3rd line last season and it would be pretty cool if they could do that again this season once Scott gets warmed up. |
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Post by MPLABBE on Nov 12, 2002 9:24:40 GMT -5
what about Bulis-Juneau-Dackell ;D   |
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Post by MPLABBE on Nov 12, 2002 21:21:54 GMT -5
Sharks signed Stuart...about time...they really miss him..
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Post by clear observer on Nov 13, 2002 9:23:11 GMT -5
It's always great to hear (read) good news about a friend. Thorny's a great player who has thrived out there in California and I for one am glad. We sure do miss him here in Montreal.
As always Pammy...thx so much for the update!
:-)
CO
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Post by Pam on Nov 13, 2002 21:32:42 GMT -5
It's always great to hear (read) good news about a friend. Thorny's a great player who has thrived out there in California and I for one am glad. We sure do miss him here in Montreal. As always Pammy...thx so much for the update! :-) CO Spiro, I'm sorry I put it in the wrong place. I'm a baaaddd girl!!  I was just so exited all I could think of was get the news to you. I'm sure you do miss him in Montreal, but he has done so well out here I am really glad the Habs let him go. It gave me a chance to see a former Leaf thrive in a new environment. He has set 2 new career records for 2 straight seasons out here. I like him so much (as a player) he took me away from Vinny (Vinny is still my 2nd favorite on the Sharks).  |
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Post by MPLABBE on Nov 13, 2002 21:42:26 GMT -5
actually you didn't Pam..this forum wasn't created when you posted this
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Post by Pam on Nov 13, 2002 22:26:27 GMT -5
Phew, what a relief!! I thought I had broken my own rule (my forum) on HabsRus. TY, Marc. |
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Post by Pam on Nov 13, 2002 22:37:57 GMT -5
Spiro, here's some more on Scott. THORNTON RETURNS TO FORM Scott Thornton showed no hesitation in his return to the lineup, throwing his body around with some tremendous force against the Rangers. If he was thinking about the shoulder, it wasn't showing. "I kind of found my rhythm in the third," said Thornton. "I definitely wanted to get the puck in and get the feeling of taking the body again. Even in the loss Sutter was glad about one thing. "It was great to see Thorty back," said Sutter. "With what he gives us, it is important." The Sharks lost in Atlanta tonight in OT.  I'll be glad when Nabby, Stuart and Scott get back up to speed so the Sharks can start winning. I'm getting it from both the Leafs and Sharks. It sucks!! This is the first time the Sharks have lost to the Thrashers, and I know the Sharks Players don't like losing this way either. They really are a better team than this. The way they are losing makes them look like the aren't very good, so hopefully it will turn around for them soon. |
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I was just so exited all I could think of was get the news to you.
I'll be glad when Nabby, Stuart and Scott get back up to speed so the Sharks can start winning. I'm getting it from both the Leafs and Sharks. It sucks!! This is the first time the Sharks have lost to the Thrashers, and I know the Sharks Players don't like losing this way either. They really are a better team than this. The way they are losing makes them look like the aren't very good, so hopefully it will turn around for them soon.