With the scored tied 2-2 in his 1,000th NHL game on Thursday, Sharks defenseman Brent Burns took matters into his own hands against the Anaheim Ducks.
Burns gathered a pass from Brenden Dillon at the right point, and blasted a signature slap shot off the left post and past Ducks netminder Chad Johnson.
A goal in his 1,000th NHL game@Burnzie88 puts the #SJSharks up 3-2 in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/Xl5fSUZerW— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) December 28, 2018
[RELATED: What we learned in Sharks' 4-2 skid-snapping win vs. Ducks]
The 32-year-old defenseman became the 14th player in Sharks history to play in their 1,000th game while rocking a San Jose sweater. He was the fourth to score according to Hockey Reference, joining teammate Joe Thornton, former teammate Patrick Marleau, and defenseman Gary Suter.
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NBC Sports California's Brodie Brazil predicted as much.
ARE YOU FOR REAL……!!!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!? https://t.co/wlkKqVqdJh— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) December 28, 2018
With 36 points on the season, Burns moved to a tie for the team-lead and into a tie for fourth among defensemen. If he keeps up this pace, he'll score at the second-highest per-game rate of his career -- just behind his Norris Trophy-winning season two years ago.
