Thornton takes shooting advice to the net

Joe Thornton has been getting the advice to shoot more virtually his entire NHL career.

On Friday night, an attempted pass from behind the goal-line turned into his 12th goal of the season when the puck was redirected on net by a Chicago skater. The fortuitous bounce moved Thornton to say, "It went in so maybe I should pass more."

Actually, Thornton is shooting more this season. What was credited as his only shot on goal against the Blackhawks gave him 107 through 52 games this year, a pace that would lead Thornton to 169 shots during 82 games. That figure would eclipse each of the last three seasons (149, 141, 139).

Thornton is hearing it from all corners as he and the Sharks embark on a season-high nine-game road trip that starts in St. Louis on Sunday. The encouragement has come recently from even Thornton's own father.

"Pretty much before every game I have to remind him," Wayne Thornton told the San Jose Mercury News. "But he doesn't shoot enough. He never has."

Thornton actually has put 13 shots on goal over the last four games, which is an increase from his previous modest pace. The Sharks are encouraging the man nicknamed Jumbo so the often struggling offense can take some heat off the defense and goaltending.

Coach Todd McLellan is still looking for the right buttons to push to get Thornton to be more selfish with the puck.

"If I had that answer, then we'd be able to solve it," McLellan told the Mercury News. "Only he can answer that. One of the tasks that we're working on is his shooting and net presence. There is a reward to shooting the puck, and we always remind him of that."

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