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Joe Thornton downplays Doughty’s taunt before game vs. Kings

Joe Thornton downplays Doughty’s taunt before game vs. Kings

It’s the preseason, right? No big deal. Just another game.

Oh, that’s right: The last time the San Jose Sharks met the Los Angeles Kings before Tuesday night's exhibition game was the last game of their first-round series, and the completion of the Kings’ “reverse sweep” of the Sharks.

Oh, that’s right: The Kings’ star defenseman, Drew Doughty, infamously called out the Sharks’ leaders, saying that even after the Kings’ first victory in the series he knew they were afraid of losing.  “You could see it in their eyes and their team and their captains and leaders that they were worried about us coming back. So we don’t want to give these guys any life,” said Doughty.

So just another game, right Joe Thornton?

“I’ve never really cared if people have compliments or people have jabs,” Thornton said on Tuesday. “It doesn’t change my mindset. You just go out and play. You don’t pay attention to that kind of stuff.”

That said, there are elements of hate even in the preseason. “We don’t like them and they don’t like us,” Thornton said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s preseason or the playoffs. It’s not hard to get up for these games.”

Coach Todd McLellan downplayed the game’s importance, being that it’s just an exhibition, but one wonders if that’ll be how it plays out considering what the Sharks coach is still looking for from his team.

“I’d like to see our compete level go up a little bit. I think all the coaches would be saying that. Find some common combinations and lines, start to use some of our key people in more key situations – maybe penalty killing and that type of stuff where we haven’t done that yet,” he told Working The Corners. “Then try to come together as a group.”

Wonder if that involves a little bit of steam being let out against the Kings tonight. Or does that wait until opening night in LA?