A healthy scratch means a hockey player’s game must improve. Clearly, Joonas Donskoi received the message.
San Jose’s second-year forward notched the first multigoal game of his career Tuesday to spark the Sharks to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at SAP Center.
Patrick Marleau collected his 490th career goal, Joe Thornton collected two assists on a night he became the 37th player to appear in 1,400 career games, and goalie Martin Jones made 20 stops.
But it was Donskoi who left the biggest impression with his continued improved play since watching from the press box last Wednesday in Ottawa three games ago.