Patrick Marleau's hot start is something that hasn't been accomplished in more than 30 years.
Through three games, the San Jose Sharks forward has six goals. He has three multigoal games, the first player to pull that off in a season's first three games since Peter Stastny of the Quebec Nordiques in 1982-83.
Marleau scored twice, including the winner with 1:53 remaining in the third period, to help the Sharks to a 5-3 victory against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night at HP Pavilion.
The Sharks erased a two-goal deficit over the final 6:54 to improve to 3-0.
SOG: 13 | +/-: 4
Marleau's six goals are the most in the NHL this season, one more than Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Sharks nearly grabbed the lead seconds before Marleau's goal, but the puck was eventually cleared to the neutral zone. Thornton tracked it down and made a quick pass to Pavelski with the Coyotes in the midst of changing personnel. Pavelski tapped it over to Marleau, who fired a quick shot that beat goaltender Jason LaBarbera.
Thornton leads the NHL in points (9) and assists (8) and has had an assist on five of Marleau’s six goals.
"Joe made a great play coming back," Marleau said. "He picked up a loose puck, and I kind of just took off, and he found Pav, and Pav was able to slide it over to me. I just tried to get it away as quick as possible."
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.