WINNIPEG, Manitoba _ Joe Thornton etched his name alongside some of the greatest to ever play Monday as he assisted on a Sharks goal against the Winnipeg Jets to become just the 13th NHL player to record 1,000 assists in his career.
Thornton assisted on Joe Pavelski's empty-net goal with 26 seconds left as the Sharks earned a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Thornton got the puck to Marc-Edouard Vlasic near the Sharks' blue line. Vlasic backhanded a pass to Pavelski, who scored his second of the game for a 3-1 Sharks lead. It turned out to be the game-winner as the Jets' Mark Scheifele scored with seven seconds to go.
"I've been able to play with some great scorers," Thornton said after the game. "I think for me, over the years, that's been the key. Staying healthy and playing with all of these great players."
Since he was acquired by the Sharks on Nov. 30, 2005, Thornton has recorded 213 goals and 715 assists for San Jose. His 928 points rank second in franchise history behind only Patrick Marleau's 1,073 points.
Thornton, in his 900th career game with the Sharks, joins a list of Hockey Hall of Fame players that includes Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe and his idol, Wayne Gretzky. He now has 1,382 points in 1,432 total NHL games and ranks 23rd all-time in points and 30th all-time in games played.
Thornton has reached 90 assists twice, including in 2005-06 when he had a career-high 96 assists, won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading point-getter with 125 and won the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP. He had 92 assists in 2006-07 when he finished with 114 points.
Thornton entered Monday with one assist in the Sharks' last five games. He had 12 goals and 25 assists in prior 33 career games against the Jets.
Thornton was on a line Monday with Pavelski and Melker Karlsson.
Pavelski scored his 22nd of the season at the 9:45 mark of the first period off assists from Karlsson and Brenden Dillon to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. Thornton's pass to Dillon helped start the sequence.
The Sharks are 23-6-2 in games this season when Thornton has at least one point.
