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A ‘special player’ -- Marleau’s latest goal gives Sharks sixth straight win

Sharks Jets Hockey

San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39), defenseman Brent Burns (88), center Joe Pavelski (8), left wing Patrick Marleau (12) and center Joe Thornton (19) celebrate after Burns scored against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Trevor Hagan/The Canadian Press via AP)

AP

The day after his four-goal game in Denver, Patrick Marleau played the hero again in Winnipeg. His tally with just 4:33 remaining in the third period, after a fantastic feed from Ryan Carpenter, gave the San Jose Sharks a 4-3 win over the Jets.

For Marleau, it was his 17th goal of the season. For the Sharks, it was their sixth straight victory.

“He’s a special player,” said head coach Pete DeBoer, per the Mercury News. “He’s had an unbelievable career, and he looks like he’s still got a lot of gas in the tank.”

At 37, Marleau is one of the oldest players in the NHL. Among the few that are older, only Marian Hossa is enjoying a goal-scoring season like he is.

Marleau is also in the final year of his contract. Last season, there was speculation that he’d accept a trade out of San Jose. Granted, that speculation died down when the Sharks caught fire and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

But as a pending unrestricted free agent, it will be interesting to see what he decides. Suffice to say, he doesn’t look like a guy who needs to retire.

“It’s fun when the puck’s finding you and you’re putting them in the net,” Marleau said. “It’s been really great. The main thing is we’re getting the wins.”