The Toronto Maple Leafs faced off against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at SAP Center, where they suffered a disappointing 6-5 defeat in a shootout, marking their second loss to the Sharks this month. The Maple Leafs needed a late-game surge to force overtime, salvaging a single point in the Atlantic Division race amidst a chaotic and high-scoring affair.
The game started with the Sharks asserting themselves early, dominating the first eight minutes and outshooting the Leafs 4-0. William Eklund set up Macklin Celebrini for a shot, while former Leaf Timothy Liljegren found Tyler Toffoli for a scoring opportunity. The Sharks drew first blood when Lucas Carlsson scored, assisted by Alex Wennberg and Collin Graf, showcasing their early energy and offensive prowess.
Despite falling behind, the Leafs began to find their footing. A penalty taken by Ty Dellandrea of the Sharks provided Toronto with an opportunity to capitalize on their power play. William Nylander, who recently set a new career high with his 41st goal, scored the equalizer after a clever stick lift by Matthew Knies, who disrupted Vincent Desharnais’ clearance attempt. This goal, scored in the first period, was crucial for the Leafs as they looked to regain momentum.
The Sharks, however, quickly responded. Alex Wennberg scored after a defensive-zone turnover by Benoit, putting San Jose back in the lead. The first period concluded with the Sharks leading 2-1, having outshot the Leafs 16-10 and controlling the pace of the game.
In the second period, the Sharks continued to apply pressure, and their efforts paid off with another goal from Wennberg, extending their lead to 3-1. The Leafs, however, struck back when Auston Matthews scored from a Mitch Marner setup, cutting the deficit to one. Matthews’ goal was a testament to the Leafs’ power play, which has been a bright spot for the team this season.
As the game progressed, the Sharks’ young talent, particularly the line of Celebrini, Will Smith, and Eklund, began to shine. Celebrini’s impressive puck-handling skills were on full display, and he eventually assisted Eklund, who scored after a blunder by Leafs goalie Joseph Woll, extending San Jose’s lead to 4-2.
But the Leafs were far from finished. Scott Laughton scored shortly after, with an assist from David Kampf, to bring Toronto within one goal again. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued, as Tyler Toffoli scored another for the Sharks, making it 5-3. Yet, Toronto’s resilience shone through once more when John Tavares scored his 33rd goal of the season, deflecting Marner’s shot to cut the lead to 5-4.
With the clock winding down, the Leafs faced a dire situation, trailing by two goals. However, they pulled their goalie for an extra skater, and the strategy paid off. In a frantic final minute, Tavares won an offensive-zone draw, allowing Marner to find Nylander, who tied the game at 5-5 with a quick finish, forcing overtime.
Overtime saw the Leafs dominating possession, outshooting the Sharks 11-4, but they could not find the back of the net. Nylander scored in the shootout, but it wasn’t enough as Woll allowed goals to Smith and Celebrini, sealing the victory for San Jose.
After the game, Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube expressed disappointment at the team’s slow start and inability to match the Sharks’ energy early on. “We didn’t come out with the intensity we needed,” Berube said, acknowledging that the team had placed crucial points back in the hands of their competitors in the playoff race.
Woll's performance was particularly scrutinized, as he made several critical mistakes, including the blunder that led to Eklund’s goal. “He needed to make more saves,” Berube remarked, emphasizing the importance of goaltending at this stage of the season.
Looking ahead, the Maple Leafs will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night. The Kings have been in excellent form, boasting an 8-2-0 record in their last ten games, presenting a significant challenge for Toronto. The Leafs will need to elevate their play and address the defensive lapses that have plagued them in recent outings if they hope to stay competitive in the playoff race.
As the season approaches its climax, every point is vital, and the Leafs’ inability to secure two points against the last-place Sharks could haunt them as the postseason looms. With the Panthers playing against Utah on Friday night, the pressure is on Toronto to deliver a strong performance in their next game to regain their footing in the standings.
