Shawn Thornton: ‘If I kept pace with [Ilya Kovalchuk] something is wrong with this game’

Shawn Thornton broke a 19-game goal-less streak in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Devils, but like many others in the Bruins’ dressing room, was focused on the team getting a much-needed victory following the game. One topic that was visited in his post-game chat was the fact that he countered Ilya Kovalchuk‘s first-period tally with one of his own.

Thornton and Kovalchuk have a bit of a comical connection in that as late as December, Thornton had more goals than the $100 million man. The two have not kept pace, of course, as Kovalchuk now has 27 to Thornton’s nine. Thornton said after the game that he was just happy that his goal, a Dennis Seidenberg shot that deflected off him, went in.

“I didn’t even know I scored. It went off my pants and in. I thought I blocked it,” Thornton said. I was going to curse myself for getting in front of it, but it found a way.”

“If I kept pace with him, there is something wrong with this game,” he added with a laugh. “I will take it anytime our line can chip in with one I’m happy.”