With a two-day break in between games, there is  plenty of time to break down Game 1.

Specifically, it gives San Jose plenty to ponder what went wrong after its 2-0 loss to the Ducks.

And, as if it needed a reason to jump on star center Joe Thornton, media in San Jose are pointing to Thornton’s one shot on goal in Game 1.

Thornton (below) is perhaps the most scrutinized player of these 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs because of his perceived inability to both produce and take a team deep into the postseason.

Thornton has 11 goals and 48 points in 71 playoff games, well off his career point-per-game pace in the regular season (842 points in 836 games).

He has 30 points in 36 playoff games with the Sharks but is saddled with second round exits in his three appearances.

The stigma takes root from 2004, when he was pointless for Boston in a seven-game quarterfinals loss Montreal, although Thornton did play hurt in that series.

Thornton is often accused of not shooting enough when he could use his big frame (6-foot-4, 235 pounds) to bully his way to the net.

There appeared to be some truth to that notion during Game 1 as Thornton and linemates Patrick Marleau and Devin Setoguchi were limited offensively against the Ducks’ top line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan.

Thornton and Marleau had 6:40 and 5:51 minutes of ice time, respectively, on the power play and still had one shot apiece for the night.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan said he might reconsider his strategy of using the Thornton line against the Getzlaf line.

Asked about Thornton and Marleau, McLellan told the San Jose Mercury News that ”Most of our offense this year has run between those two players. And if we’re going to move on, they have to produce offensively.”

That means converting on the power play after an 0-for-6 performance. They outshot the Ducks, 35-17, but most of those shots were from a safe distance.

So much off time, so many questions. Will they be answered in Game 2?

“We felt we had the majority of the play, but that’s just hockey,” Thornton told reporters after Game 1.

“We go in front of the net and get more shots. Eventually they’ll go in. We’ll be better on Sunday.”

[Source: Ducks.FreedomBlogging.com]

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