TORONTO — Nazem Kadri was an assist short of a bizarre Gordie Howe hat trick.
Toronto’s Kadri ripped out part of Sharks center Joe Thornton’s mountain-man beard in a fight off the opening faceoff and scored in regulation in the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 shootout victory over San Jose on Thursday.
Thornton and Kadri dropped the gloves just two seconds after being tossed out of the opening faceoff for slashing each other like manic lumberjacks. Thornton’s beard took a beating in the scrap, thanks to Kadri hanging on to it rather than Thornton’s jersey as the two battled.