Joe Thornton records first multi-goal playoff game in 176th start

If Joe Thornton is indeed on his way to knocking a certain mug off his hockey bucket list this spring, he’s unlocked at least one, albeit lesser, career achievement along the way.

With goals in the first and second periods of Wednesday’s Game 3 versus the St. Louis Blues, the soon-to-be 40-year-old registered his first multi-goal game in his Stanley Cup Playoffs career.

Incredibly, the milestone has come in the surefire Hall of Famer’s 176th start.

Unsurprisingly, he’s the oldest player to achieve such a milestone.

To celebrate it, let’s admire the handy work.

First Thornton started, sustained and finished his initial goal when chasing down a puck on the forecheck, tipping the point shot on Jordan Binnington and then depositing his own rebound on the backhand.

He would then momentarily restore the Sharks’ two-goal advantage by digging Kevin Labanc’s pass out of his skates and beating Binnington to the real estate inside the near post.

One more goal would mark his sixth hat trick when lumping in the regular season, while two more would mean you know what.

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