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Burns' prolific spring puts him in elite company

Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Lost in the San Jose Sharks' defeat in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final was another multi-point game from Brent Burns, his eighth of the playoffs.

Burns and his beard assisted on both Sharks goals Monday, and he now has 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) this spring, which puts him in elite company. Only four defensemen have put up more points in a single postseason dating back to 1986 - and they were great ones.

D-Man Postseason Points
Brian Leetch 1994 34
Al MacInnis 1989 31
Ray Bourque 1991 25
Larry Murphy 1991 23
Burns 2016 22

There's a good chance Burns ends up third on that list, behind only Leetch and MacInnis, by the time the Cup is awarded.

Considering how much the game has changed since the late 1980s and early 1990s, and how much better goaltenders are today, Burns' playoffs are that much more impressive.

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