Thornton scores as Sharks top Blue Jackets 3-1

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Joe Thornton scored and moved into a tie for 11th place on the NHL’s career list for games played as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Thursday night.

Thornton, who notched his second goal of the season, appeared in his 1,612th NHL game — tying him with Ray Bourque.

Kevin Labanc scored a goal and had an assist, Brent Burns had a goal, and Aaron Dell turned back 28 shots for the Sharks, who improved to 4-2-2 over their last eight games after going 1-8-1 over their previous 10.

Sonny Milano scored his fifth goal for Columbus, which had its point streak in road games snapped at nine, going 6-0-3 over that stretch.

Labanc broke a scoreless tie with his 10th goal at 1:01 of the second. He was in the slot when he picked up a loose puck and fired it past Elvis Merzlikins.

Thornton scored on a power play from the top of the face-off circle midway through the second to extend San Jose’s lead to 2-0.

Milano scored an unassisted goal for Columbus with 1:48 left in the second.

A turnover by Burns deep in San Jose’s end set up Milano’s fifth goal.

Burns scored his eighth goal early in the third after rebounding a shot by Labanc just outside the crease.

Merzlikins had 30 saves.

Brendan Dillon, Evander Kane, Barclay Goodrow and Erik Karlsson each had one assist for San Jose.

NOTES: Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella coached his 1,032nd NHL game, passing Mike Babcock for 12th on the NHL’s career list. … Former Sharks F Gustav Nyquist played against his former team for first time since signing a four-year contract with Columbus in July. … Columbus was looking to match its second longest road point streak in team history. The Blue Jackets longest road point streak is 11. … San Jose recalled F Joachim Blichfeld the San Jose Barracuda, the team’s AHL affiliate. … The Sharks played their first game without C Logan Couture, who will miss about six weeks with an ankle fracture.

UP NEXT

Blue Jackets: At Vegas on Saturday.

Sharks: Host Dallas on Saturday.