SAN JOSE — Everything just looked a little bit different Tuesday night for the Sharks when they opened their regular season-ending three-game homestand against the Vancouver Canucks.
Not seeing Joe Thornton on the power play, on the top line or even on the Sharks’ bench might have that effect.
The Sharks still responded to their first game in over two seasons without Thornton with a 3-1 over the Canucks at SAP Center, keeping alive their hopes of finishing in one of the top two spots in the Pacific Division.
Kevin Labanc and Joel Ward both scored in the first 30 seconds of the first period and Chris Tierney added an insurance goal midway through the third as the Sharks swept the home-and-home series with Vancouver to stay within four points of first place Anaheim.