SHARKS 6, LEAFS 5: Despite comeback, Sharks put shootout bite on Leafs again
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If the Maple Leafs lose the Atlantic Division by a point or two, the teeth marks left by the San Jose Sharks will figure prominently.
From the depths of the NHL, the last-place Sharks have edged Toronto twice in shootouts, though the Leafs managed two last-minute goals to force overtime on Thursday. John Tavares and William Nylander supplied them, with Core Four mates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner doing everything they could to win in overtime before the 6-5 final when Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini beat Joseph Woll in the tiebreaker.
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SHARKS 6, LEAFS 5: Despite comeback, Sharks put shootout bite on Leafs again Back to video
Forcing the regulation tie does give the Leafs possession of first in the Atlantic by a point, ahead of Florida and Tampa Bay, the latter making it a three-way knot for a few hours after swamping Utah.
But what shaped up on paper as the easiest of three dates on this California road trip was deceiving. The second-worst scoring team in the NHL put five past an at times shaky Woll, after a 16-10 shot blitz in the first period, in which San Jose led 2-1 thanks to Collin Graf’s shorthanded goal.
That came after Nylander reached a career-high 41 goals. The Leafs were under fire again in the middle frame, with Alex Wennberg burying a 2-on-1 chance when Simon Benoit pinched.
Berube, who saw some over-aggressive forechecking get his team in trouble, sat the minus 2 Benoit for a bit after that. Max Domi sat most of the third period across the ice after having a misconduct tacked onto his retaliation penalty.
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Matthews, born up the road in San Ramon, Cal., recorded his 13th goal in 15 career games versus the Sharks, a rebound that fell behind goalie Alexandar Georgiev. It also moved him past George Armstrong into sixth place in franchise points with 714.
After a 3-2 shootout loss on Bay Street earlier this month, Berube’s warning to expect hustle from one of the NHL’s most promising young teams seemed to go unheeded. The Sharks scoring was peppered with names others than rookie star Celebrini and Smith, with goals from William Eklund and Graf.
Eklund’s second-period goal was a groaner for Woll to give up as the goalie didn’t dump the puck to nearby teammate Chris Tanev when he had the chance, but tried to fire it up ice, only to hit the Shark’s skate and have it carom in behind him.
The Leafs did get to celebrate Scott Laughton’s badly needed first goal in his 10th Toronto game, the Flyer trade acquisition finishing off some bottom six pressure with David Kampf.
But another Berube project on this trip, more consistent penalty killing, was undermined by three late minors. Domi lost his temper in retaliation for a hit, Nick Robertson’s accidental trip resulted in Tyler Toffoli’s second goal of the game, and Jake McCabe went off moments later to complicate the comeback.
The Leafs are in Los Angeles on Saturday.
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