When your nickname is "Jumbo Joe," it shouldn't come as a surprise when you come up big.
What is surprising is that future Hall of Famer Joe Thornton had never scored two or more goals in a single playoff game. Until Wednesday, that is.
The Sharks veteran netted in the first and second periods of San Jose's 5-4 Game 3 win in overtime over the St. Louis Blues, marking his first goals of the series and setting several NHL marks in the process.
MORE: Sharks win Game 3 on controversial play that once again can't be reviewed
Thornton's first goal came at 16:58 of the first period, with the 39-year-old opportunistically gathering a rebound and deftly backhanding the puck into the gaping St. Louis goal.
The marker was Thornton's 1,609th career NHL point (regular season and playoffs), good for 16th place in league history.
Joe Thornton of the @SanJoseSharks recorded his 1,609th career NHL point (regular season and playoffs combined) to pass Bryan Trottier (1,608) for sole possession of the 16th-highest such total in League history. https://t.co/JbCfUnNWHG #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Mbb3qra3wE
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 16, 2019
Early in the second period, Thornton displayed his knack for being in the right place at the right time again. The 21-year veteran drifted in from the right wing and tapped home a Kevin Labanc pass for his second goal of the game.
That goal gave Thornton his first postseason multi-goal game, making him the oldest Shark to achieve such a feat. In addition, the London, Ont., native is the oldest player to register his first career postseason multi-goal contest.
Joe Thornton (39 years, 317 days) of the @SanJoseSharks is the oldest player in NHL history at the time of his first career multi-goal playoff game.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 16, 2019
He eclipsed the mark set by Mike Knuble (37 years, 291 days) in Game 4 of the 2010 Conference Quarterfinals. #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/DTzvwgsVr5
The big man wasn't done after his goals, though. With the Sharks down by one in the dying moments of regulation and pushing for an equalizer, Thornton provided the secondary assist on Logan Couture's marker to send the game to overtime.
San Jose went on to win in controversial fashion and take a 2-1 lead in the series.