SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Cristobal Huet(notes) #39 of the Chicago Blackhawks defends the goal against Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks during their game at HP Pavilion on November 25, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

San Jose Sharks' Ryane Clowe(notes) (29) celebrates with teammate Joe Thornton(notes) (19) after Thornton scored a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Terry Gilliam)

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 21: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks reacts after scoring his third period eventual game-winning goal as James Wisniewski(notes) #34, Ryan Whitney(notes) #19, Bobby Ryan(notes) #9 and Teemu Selanne(notes) #8 of the Anaheim Ducks look on dejectedly during the NHL game at the Honda Center on November 21, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Sharks defeated the Ducks 3-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 21: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates by the Sharks bench to celebrate with his teammates after scoring his third period eventual game-winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the NHL game at the Honda Center on November 21, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Sharks defeated the Ducks 3-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

San Jose Sharks' Patrick Marleau(notes), second from left, celebrates with teammates, from left, Dany Heatley(notes) (15), Dan Boyle(notes) (23), Joe Thornton(notes) (19) and Douglas Murray(notes) (3) after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, in San Jose, Calif.

Nashville Predators right wing Jordin Tootoo(notes) (22) falls as he and San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton(notes) (19) vie for the puck in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. The Predators won 4-3.

Chicago Blackhawks' Brent Seabrook(notes) celebrates while he skates past San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton(notes) after scoring the winning goal in overtime during an NHL hockey game in Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Blackhawks won 4-3.

San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton(notes) (19) and Jason Demers(notes) (60) gather around teammate Dany Heatly, on right hidden by Demers, after Heatly scored the Sharks first goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in Chicago.

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck as Ryan Suter(notes) #20 of the Nashville Predators defends during their NHL game at the HP Pavilion on November 10, 2009 in San Jose, California.(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 04: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks looks to pass against Antoine Vermette(notes) #50 of the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 4, 2009 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. San Jose won the game 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 04: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates his first-period goal with Ryane Clowe(notes) #29 during NHL action against the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 4, 2009 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 30: Jamie McGinn(notes) #64 of the San Jose Sharks is congratulated by Joe Thornton(notes) #19 after McGinn scored a goal in the third period of their game against the Colorado Avalanche at the HP Pavilion on October 30, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 30: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 and goalie Evgeni Nabokov(notes) #20 of the San Jose Sharks defend against Chris Durno(notes) #45 of the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of their game at the HP Pavilion on October 30, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks hits Brandon Dubinsky(notes) #17 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2009 in New York City. The Sharks defeated the Rangers 7-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks hits Dan Boyle(notes) #22 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2009 in New York City. The Sharks defeated the Rangers 7-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks embraces Devin Setoguchi(notes) #16 after his second goal of the second period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2009 in New York City. The Sharks defeated the Rangers 7-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks is hit by Sean Avery(notes) #16 of the New York Rangers as Evgeni Nabokov(notes) #30 keeps his eyes on the puck at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks is pressed between Marc Staal(notes) #18 and Chris Drury(notes) #23 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks jumps over Dan Girardi #5 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 17: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks scores a power play goal at 37 seconds of the third period against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on October 17, 2009 in Uniondale, New York. The Sharks defeated the Islanders 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 15: Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks brings the puck up the ice against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on October 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 06: Goalie Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings defends the net against Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks during the first period of the NHL hockey game on October 6, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 03: Ryan Whitney(notes) #19 of the Anaheim Ducks and Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks battle for the puck during the first period at the Honda Center on October 3, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

DENVER - OCTOBER 01: Kyle Quincey(notes) #27 of the Colorado Avalanche kicks the puck with his skate as he defends against Joe Thornton(notes) #19 of the San Jose Sharks in the crease as goaltender Craig Anderson(notes) #41 defends the goal at the Pepsi Center on October 1, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)