San Jose ends Canucks' playoff hopes

Rookie Matt Carle scored the go-ahead goal on a pass from Joe Thornton with 8:36 left, and the San Jose Sharks eliminated Vancouver from playoff contention with their franchise-record seventh straight victory, 5-3 over the Canucks on Thursday night.

Thornton tied Jaromir Jagr for the NHL scoring lead with three assists, giving him 122 points in his spectacular season since joining the Sharks in a trade with Boston.

• San Jose ends Canucks' playoff hopes

Sharks 5, Canucks 3

In two magical back-to-back nights, Joe Thornton took a share of the NHL scoring lead, just about singlehandedly set the West's eight-team playoff field and ended the Vancouver Canucks' postseason hopes.

Afterward, he was ready to contemplate even bigger things - not for himself, but for his San Jose Sharks, who are headed to the postseason with all the momentum Thornton can gather.

• Sharks 5, Canucks 3