In Joe Thornton's absence, Sharks captain Joe Pavelski has returned to a familiar place.
Pavelski centered the top line in San Jose's last three games -- a spot he filled last season after Thornton tore his ACL and MCL on Jan. 23.
That really was the first extended stretch in which Pavelski played center under coach Peter DeBoer, and he responded to the move to his original position well enough. The 34-year-old scored 32 points in his final 35 games, after scoring 34 in his first 47.
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Pavelski has remained productive down the middle in the last three games. He scored twice in Tuesday’s blowout against the Philadelphia Flyers. Per Natural Stat Trick, he ranks no worse than third on the team in five-on-five shot rate, shot-attempt rate, scoring-chance rate and high-danger chance rate since Thornton was placed on injured reserve with an infection in his surgically repaired right knee.
It’s helped Pavelski playing with linemates with whom he’s previously developed chemistry. Evander Kane and Kevin Labanc returned to his wings Tuesday in Philadelphia, and stayed there in Thursday’s overtime loss to the New York Rangers. On Thursday, the trio out-shot the Rangers 10-1 in just over 10-and-a-half minutes of five-on-five ice time, and out-chanced the Blueshirts 9-3 -- including a 7-0 edge in high-danger chances.
The three spent all of 4:10 together last season, but Pavelski was better playing with both players last season than he was without him. With Pavelski on the ice away from Kane after San Jose acquired the winger at the trade deadline, the Sharks generated shots, attempts and scoring chances at a lower rate, and gave them up at a higher rate than when the two played together. On the season, the Sharks also were worse defensively with Pavelski on the ice away from Labanc.
On paper, their skills seem to mesh. Kane brings the speed and power, Labanc the playmaking, and Pavelski the finishing and hockey sense. So far, that’s borne out on the ice. The trio has controlled the majority of five-on-five shot attempts (63.04 percent), unblocked shot attempts (66.67 percent), shots (77.27 percent), scoring chances (59.26 percent), and high-danger chances (84.62 percent).
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Now, those results came against two of the NHL’s worst teams in terms of puck possession so far this season. The same can’t be said about the New Jersey Devils (yet, since they’ve only played two games), whom the Sharks will play against to wrap up a five-game road trip Sunday.
But San Jose might only need one more strong game from the trio. Thornton is eligible to return from IR on Sunday, although the 39-year-old is more likely to return once the Sharks come back to the Bay Area for a two-game homestand that starts Thursday.
Should Thornton return Thursday, a win Sunday in New Jersey would ensure a 2-1-1 record in his absence. That wouldn’t be bad, all things considered.
If Pavelski -- and the rest of San Jose’s top line -- keep up the offensive production, the Sharks would be in position to do just that.