Patrick Marleau enjoying career year

Patrick Marleau is having back-to-back career years.

One season after scoring a career-best 38 goals, Marleau has already surpassed that total. He entered San Jose’s game against Nashville Thursday night one away from his first 40-goal season.

A 40-goal season isn’t going to win you the Rocket Richard Trophy, but it’s nothing to sneeze at. Just eight players reached the 40-goal mark last season, and only 10 did so in 2007-08.

“It’s feels good,” Marleau said. “If anything, you want to set the bar really high and move as high up there as you can.”

Marleau has spent most of the season skating on a line with Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley. He’s recently been paired with Ryane Clowe and Joe Pavelski, who said he’s not surprised by Marleau’s career season.

“I think he’s got a great shot,” Pavelski told the Sharks’ Web site. “I remember when I was younger reading in a hockey magazine that he was in the top-10 players for best wrist shot. His shot is quick and hard.”

Spending much of the season skating with Thornton, one of the NHL’s great passers, is enough to help anyone’s offensive totals. But he feels there’s also another reason for his success.

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