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Sharks’ Thornton would ‘love’ Burns on his line for rest of season

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If Joe Thornton has his way, the “Brent Burns at forward” experiment will last for more than one game.

The Sharks captain centered Burns during Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to St. Louis -- Burns jumped onto his line late in the second period -- and Thornton like what he saw from the defenseman-turned-winger.

“I’d play with [Burns] all year. He’s big, strong, handles the puck,” he told CSN Bay Area. “Yeah, I’d love to play with him all year, he’s great.”

Though San Jose lost on Tuesday, the team was taking some positives from the defeat.

The Sharks put 41 shots on goal -- just the third time this year they’ve registered 40-plus -- with Burns scoring once, his first goal of the year.

The biggest development, though, might be that head coach Todd McLellan might’ve found a winger for Thornton and Logan Couture.

A number of skaters have had the opportunity to fill the void this season -- including the likes of Bracken Kearns and Tommy Wingels -- but none have found success.

Burns is hoping he’ll be able to change that.

“It’s a joy to play with those guys,” he explained. “I think we were in their end a lot of the game. Big bodies, I think we play a hard style. I felt good.”