EDMONTON, Alberta — Joe Thornton experienced some unusual emotions when he was unable to dress for a playoff game for the first time in almost 18 years.

“You don’t realize how nervous you can be when you’re not out there,” Thornton said. “I was just extremely happy.”

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After plea from HDA and Evander Kane, NHL postpones Thursday and Friday games Thornton, still recovering from an April 2 knee injury, watched Wednesday as the Sharks erased a two-goal deficit and beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“It was such a good game for both teams,” Thornton said. “What an ending for us. It was great.”

Thornton said he felt a little better Thursday than he did the day before but added it’ll probably be decided at game-time whether he’ll be available for Game 2 on Friday.

Thornton skated Thursday as the Sharks went through an optional practice at Rogers Place, a day after he missed his first playoff game since April 22, 1999, when he did not play for the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their opening round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes. He had been a part of 121 straight Sharks playoff games.

Thornton said the decision not to play was made after he arrived at the arena late Wednesday afternoon. With the Sharks winning Game 1, there would seem to be less of an urgency to get Thornton back into the lineup right away.

“It’s tough. You want to be out there competing with the guys,” Thornton said. “But we’re hoping to be in this for a long, long time. If I can get a couple days here and there and that can help me out long-term, it’s going to be good for us.”

Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Thursday that Thornton’s health will dictate when he returns, not where the series happens to stand.

“You’re not going to keep Joe Thornton out,” DeBoer said. “He wants to play and I’m not going to sit him down and have a conversation with him. … If he’s ready to play and feels that he can help us, he’s going to play, regardless of the score of the series or anything else.

“It’s killing him sitting out. I’m sure we’ll see him sooner than later.”