SAN JOSE -- The paths of Joe Thornton and Mike Sullivan are crossing again as the Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins prepare to meet in the Stanley Cup Final.
Sullivan, the Penguins' coach, played with Thornton during the veteran's rookie season with the Boston Bruins in 1997. A member of the inaugural Sharks team in the 1991-92 season, Sullivan got into coaching after his playing days and his first head coaching job was with Boston in 2003. His captain: Thornton."So long ago," Thornton said Friday of his days playing under Sullivan. "Good coach. Obviously great coach this year."Sullivan took over the Penguins on Dec.