San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (foreground) in action during the NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. (AFP)

By Curtis Pashelka/Contra Costa Times (TNS)


Patrick Marleau said for days that he just wanted to get it over and done with.
But after he had reached one of hockey’s great milestones Saturday night, Marleau couldn’t help but appreciate what was a truly significant moment in the history of the Sharks franchise.
Marleau cemented his spot among the NHL’s all-time elite forwards as he collected his 1,000th career regular season point in the Sharks’ 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Marleau entered the game with 999 points, all of which came in a San Jose uniform, and finished the game with two assists as the Sharks went on to win their fifth straight on this six-game road trip.
“You never know what it’s about until it’s actually done and over with,” Marleau said. “Just having everybody come up and congratulate me, and throwing different numbers out there, it starts to take a little bit of shape how big it is.”
Marleau reached the milestone 7:54 into the first period, digging the puck out of the corner and feeding Joel Ward, whose shot on goal was stopped by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. But the rebound came right to Brent Burns, whose shot gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
Marleau and defenseman Paul Martin also assisted on Burns’ second goal, the game-winner, with 6:54 left in the second period. Martin also scored an insurance marker in the third period in his return to Pittsburgh.
Goalie Martin Jones made 38 saves in another exceptional performance for his fifth straight win as the Sharks moved into a first-place tie in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Kings.
Marleau is the 83rd NHL player — and one of only five active players — to reach 1,000 regular season points. He’s also the 36th NHL player to record at least 1,000 points with one franchise, and the third to achieve the milestone in a Sharks uniform, joining Joe Thornton and Vincent Damphousse.
“I watched him as an opposing coach and a fan; now to actually work with him is something pretty special,” Sharks assistant coach Steve Spott said. “What he did tonight, not only for himself but for the San Jose Sharks hockey club, is pretty special.”
Few players, if any, are as synonymous with the Sharks franchise as Marleau, who was drafted second overall by the Sharks in 1997 in Pittsburgh, one spot behind Thornton.
“That’s really cool. Being drafted here and now getting 1,000 points here, that’s some significance here in Pittsburgh,” Marleau said. “That’s something I’ll always remember.”
Marleau was playing his 1,349th NHL regular season game Saturday and now has 462 goals and 539 assists. The Penguins recognized the milestone during the next stoppage in play, as the fans at Consol Energy Center gave Marleau a warm ovation.
“That was pretty unexpected, but a very classy move on Pittsburgh, and I thank them for doing that,” Marleau said. “Not only for me, but also for Paul Martin. He had a big game tonight.”
Marleau now has 13 points in 20 games this season. His first NHL point, also an assist, came Oct. 11, 1997, in a home game against the Boston Bruins. It was his fourth NHL game.
The Sharks will recognise Marleau’s achievement Dec. 1 when they host the Penguins. The team returns home Sunday night, then starts a three-game homestand, starting with its Nov. 25 game against Chicago, followed by Calgary on Nov. 28 and Pittsburgh.
Spott, Bob Boughner and Johan Hedberg jointly handled coaching duties for the game, as Pete DeBoer was not behind the bench due to a personal matter.
It is unclear whether DeBoer will be able to rejoin the team for Sunday’s game in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
Sharks forward Logan Couture took another step forward in his recovery from a fractured right fibula, skating with his equipment Saturday for the first time since his surgery five weeks ago.
Couture skated for roughly 10-15 minutes. It’s been five weeks since Couture had surgery for his fractured right fibula at the ankle.
“It’s kind of a day-by-day thing on how it reacts and how we move forward,” Couture said.