Five Questions with Brent Burns

NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Five Questions With …" will run every Tuesday throughout the 2017-18 regular season. We talk to key figures in the game and ask them questions to gain insight into their lives, careers and the latest news.
The latest edition features San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns:

RELATED: [Maroon pets Burns' beard after whistle | Sharks to give away Burns nutcracker]
CALGARY -- Rigid, disciplined and punctual are not the qualities normally associated with San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, one of the genuine free spirits in the NHL.
Underneath the giant beard and the laissez-faire persona is a diligent professional who comes to work every day.
A little-known fact: Burns often plans his day down to the minute. On a recent game day, he figured he could save 10 minutes by ordering an Uber to pick him up at Scotiabank Saddledome after the morning skate, rather than waiting for the Sharks bus to take him back to the hotel.
Burns won his first Norris Trophy as best defensmen in the League in 2016-17, when he led NHL defensemen with 29 goals and 76 points. That included a 16-game stretch without a goal from Feb. 18 to March 25.
A similar drought came early this season when Burns did not score in his first 20 games before breaking through against the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 24. Including that game, Burns has six goals in his past 12. He has 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) and a Sharks-leading 129 shots on goal in 32 games, and is averaging 25:20 of ice time.

"He's doing a lot of the same things," Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said of Burns' resurgence. "Watching those point guys, it's tough to score from out there. You need traffic. You need to get your shots through. Some teams have done a better job of probably taking them away, blocking shots.
"Our power play has been better. It's created some better chances for him. We've played some good games lately, and he's been a part of it."
The Sharks (17-11-4) are 6-3-2 their past 11 games and in third place in the Pacific Division. Goaltenders Martin Jones and Aaron Dell have a combined 2.34 goals-against average, second in the NHL behind Jonathan Quick and Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings (2.24).
"Our goalies have been unbelievable," Burns said. "We're lucky to have two guys that both play really well, and I think it starts there."
Burns spoke with NHL.com about doing a TV commercial with Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, his early-season struggles, the Sharks power play without longtime fixture Patrick Marleau, and, yes, that famous shirtless Joe Thornton bobblehead doll.
Here are Five Questions with … Brent Burns:
You are scoring now and getting tons of shots. Were goalies making certain adjustments to you, and if so, how did you adjust to that?
"I think it was just puck luck. I don't know why I always hear about it. But people don't really realize the small differences of that thing going bar in or bar out. Or a save, a block. I don't want to say -- luck is the wrong word probably -- but it's just funny. You always hear as soon as you score one goal, reporters are like, 'Oh, what did you do differently?' I'm like, 'Listen, I've eaten the same meal every day before a game.' I do the same thing day of a game, do the same routine. My work ethic is the same. Nothing changes. The only thing that changes … it goes in the net."

The Sharks had one of the most consistent power plays with a set cast for years. What are the differences now that Patrick Marleau has moved on, signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 2?
"Everything's changed a little bit. We're trying some new things and you've got to keep things fresh a little bit too. For a while there, it was a battle. We've got to keep it going the way it's been lately. What it comes down to is chemistry, and you need that to be good."
You and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid had a really impressive Stanley Cup Playoff series against each other in the 2017 Western Conference First Round. A few months later, you did a charming commercial in which you mimicked a series of carnival games. What was it like doing the commercial with him and getting to show your lighter side?
"It was fun. It's fun to get to do those kind of things with the other guys and get to see them a little bit away from the rink."
The last part of the commercial was you in a dunk tank. Where you worried about getting pneumonia in the chilled arena?
[Laughs] "No, Connor's pretty quick, I was pretty quick. It was in and out. It was pretty fast."
Finally, let's talk about the bobblehead doll everyone seems to love: the shirtless, bearded Joe Thornton. What was your reaction when you first saw it?
"I think it's great. But it's tough to beat the real thing though, and I get to see the real thing all the time. He's definitely unique and special, not just on the ice, but off the ice. Joe's a special guy. He's in great shape. The bobblehead's got a pretty good body."