Henry Thrun wasn’t expecting to get sent out on the power play last Tuesday. But that’s where he scored his first NHL goal.
The San Jose Sharks, down 4-0 early in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs, were on the man advantage. Head coach David Quinn, not particularly pleased with how William Eklund and Mike Hoffman started the middle frame, skipped both their PP turns less than five minutes later.
Power play coach Brian Wiseman tapped Thrun to jump on the ice, joining fellow defenseman Mario Ferraro. Problem? Ferraro had the point, Thrun’s obvious power play position. And he wasn’t really given any direction, speaking to the sudden decision to bench Eklund and Hoffman. Thrun hadn’t practiced on the power play during morning skate.
“Wise just said 3, you’re going,” Thrun told San Jose Hockey Now in Montreal the next day. “Just went out there and tried to find a spot. Wasn’t really directed where to go or what set-up we were in.”
The San Jose Sharks power play was between units, Ferraro coming on for Calen Addison, Tomas Hertl, Mikael Granlund, and Anthony Duclair already on the ice.
“We were kind of in the middle of a change and just saw that we didn’t have a bumper out there,” Thrun said. “So going out there and just trying to find an empty spot.”
The defenseman noted that he had played the high slot on the power play, usually a forward’s position, with the San Jose Barracuda this season.
And that’s where he scored his first NHL goal, deflecting home a Granlund shot-pass.
“Any time a guy like Granny or Tommy is on the ice, you pretty much just put your stick on the ice, and they’re probably gonna find you,” Thrun said. “It was a great pass by Granny and luckily it went in.”
While that goal didn’t get the San Jose Sharks going – they would lose 7-1 – Thrun was at least able to grab the puck from his milestone goal.
“I was able to get it after the game. Got a picture with it. I imagine I’ll give it to my parents,” he smiled.
It was a tough night for the Sharks, but as least one of them has a good memory from it.
“Just went out there and tried to play hockey and it ended up working out,” Thrun said.
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