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Thornton faces former team as Sharks host Bruins

Oct 13, 2007 - 3:37 PM Boston (2-2-0) at San Jose (2-1-1) 10:30 pm EDT

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Joe Thornton on Saturday will play the Boston Bruins for just the second time since the blockbuster trade that sent him to the San Jose Sharks.

The 26-year-old Thornton has tallied 209 points over 144 games since being traded for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau in 2005. He also was awarded the Hart Trophy after his 2005-06 campaign.

Thornton has scored two goals and set up another in four games this season with the Sharks, who will be playing their first home game Saturday.

After scoring just five times in their first three games, Boston's offense finally came alive Friday. Phil Kessel registered his first career hat trick and added an assist while Marc Savard tallied the game-winning goal and set up four others in an 8-6 triumph at Los Angeles.

Marco Sturm, the only player left on the Boston roster from the Thornton trade, has one goal this season. The German left wing has tallied 51 goals since the trade, which is seven more than Thornton has accumulated in that time. However, he has managed just 88 points over that stretch while Thornton has been an assists machine, finishing first in the NHL last season with 92 helpers.

Veteran Sharks' center Jeremy Roenick, who nearly retired during the offseason, is making his way toward the 500-goal plateau. The 37-year-old has 497 career goals and will join Mike Modano and Joe Mullen as the only American-born players to reach the milestone.