SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the San Jose Sharks 6-5 in a shootout at SAP Center on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Despite salvaging a crucial point in the standings, the Leafs showcased their ongoing struggle to capitalize against teams at the bottom of the NHL standings as they prepare for a playoff run next month.
The game began ominously for Toronto, as they appeared destined to lose in regulation. However, two goals in the final minute forced the game beyond 60 minutes, demonstrating a glimmer of resilience. Outside of their power play performance, the Leafs looked lethargic on the ice, suffering from lapses in judgment. Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll misplayed the puck while attempting to make a pass, leading to a turnover that Sharks forward William Eklund capitalized on, scoring a crucial goal.
“They are a quick team, but I think that maybe the travel yesterday and everything, we just weren't on our toes,” said Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, trying to pinpoint an explanation for his team's performance. “We got better as the game went along. We made some mistakes. We all got to be better, goalie included. It's not good enough.”
The Leafs' performance came just after they had convincingly defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 7-2 on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. It seemed they had overcome their previous transgressions of not taking advantage of opportunities against lower-ranked teams, a pattern that had seen them stumble against the Nashville Predators just days earlier.
“I didn't love our game tonight. I thought we just seemed slow,” said star forward Auston Matthews. “We didn't seem to take care of the puck much, just kind of messing around with it too much.”
As the game progressed, the Leafs found themselves in penalty trouble, which only compounded their issues. After receiving the first three power plays of the match, the Sharks capitalized on their chances, with Toronto struggling to maintain composure.
Woll's performance was under scrutiny as well. He made 30 saves on 35 shots, but his struggles have been evident since the Four Nations break. In his last eight starts, Woll’s save percentage has dipped to .892, while his counterpart Anthony Stolarz has a .895 save percentage in his last ten starts. Both goalies have reached career highs in games played this season, but neither has taken command of the starting role as the playoffs approach.
In a bright spot for the Leafs, William Nylander scored twice, reaching a career-high 42 goals this season. Not traditionally known for scoring in bunches, Nylander recorded back-to-back multi-goal games for the first time in his NHL career, with two goals against the Sharks and two against the Flyers.
“For the first time in my NHL career, I recorded back-to-back multi-goal games,” Nylander said after the match. “It’s a great feeling, and with ten games left, I’m aiming for that 50-goal mark. It’s definitely within reach.”
Tyler Toffoli led the Sharks with two goals and an assist, while Collin Graf, Alexander Wennberg, and Eklund also found the net. The Sharks jumped to an early lead, scoring four times before the Leafs began to rally. John Tavares cut the deficit to one with just 59 seconds remaining, and Nylander tied the game 45 seconds later with his second goal.
In the shootout, Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini scored for the Sharks, while Alexandar Georgiev made critical saves against Matthews and Mitch Marner to seal the win. Georgiev finished the night with 30 saves in regulation.
“They came out with a lot of jump and were firing pucks from everywhere,” Tavares noted about the Sharks' early energy. “We didn’t match their pace early on.”
Berube acknowledged the challenges his team faced, citing travel fatigue and a lack of sharpness in their play. “We didn’t play very well in the first period. They were all over us. Out-skated us in the first. Just looked quicker than us,” he said.
Despite the disappointment, the Leafs managed to salvage a point from the game, keeping their playoff hopes alive. However, with their record now at 43-25-4, they cannot afford to drop points against teams like the Sharks, who are at the bottom of the standings.
“We’ve been thinking about that all year,” Matthews said regarding the tight race for the Atlantic Division’s top seed. “Ourselves, the two Florida teams, and it’s a tight race. It’s up for grabs. So, obviously, you want to win that for sure.”
As they prepare for their next game against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, March 29, 2025, the Leafs will need to address their sluggish start and improve their defensive play. The Kings will be a formidable opponent, and the Leafs must bring their A-game to secure a victory.
With the playoffs looming, the Maple Leafs must find their rhythm quickly. They cannot afford to let opportunities slip through their fingers, especially against teams that are hungry for an upset. The next few games will be crucial as they look to solidify their playoff position.
