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Technically, it's not a real statistic, but it is part of hockey lore: The Gordie Howe hat trick (goal-assist-fight). Joe Thornton and Ryane Clowe turned it against the Kings as part of the Sharks' dramatic 6-5 shootout victory. Some details, before we cut to the action:
Thornton -- Second-period goal, assist on Patrick Marleau, fight with Drew Doughty.
Clowe -- Third-period goal, assist on Martin Havlat, fights with Matt GreeneKyle Clifford.
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Thornton fight tidbits (courtesy of comrade Ray Ratto):
- first career fight for Doughty (it showed)
- Thorntons last fight was with Ryan Getzlaf2009 Western Conference semifinals (a doozy)
- Thorntons first regulation fight since 2008 with Scott Nichol
- only time Thornton has lost a fight was to Eric Lindros (in 2004 when Thornton was in Boston)
Clowe quotes (courtesy of colleagues Brodie Brazil and Kevin Kurz):
The Gordie Howe hat trick, do you celebrate those?
Ill celebrate it with sleeping tonight, Im tired. I dont know, Its just one of those games where I had an opportunity to score on a shootout ... hopefully save that for some other time.
You fought Clifford, was that just a response to his hit on Logan?
I was just standing up for a teammate. Hes a tough kid, he doesnt back down, but it was definitely a response.