~Photo credit: Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Logan Couture clinched the comeback for San Jose with its third unanswered goal in a 3-2 rally over the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday.

In the Sharks’ first shootout of the season, San Jose’s Joe Pavelski’s shot clanked off the crossbar during Round One. Couture scored in Round Two. If shootout goals counted, it would have been his second goal in as many games.

Sharks’ goalie Martin Jones three saves in the shootout included a save against Auston Matthews, who had scored against Jones earlier and had an assist.

Both Jones and goalie Frederik Andersen had their fill during overtime, which featured five shots between the teams. One of Jones’ saves was against a hard shot by Mitchell Marner and the Sharks’ Kevin Labanc also had a slight breakaway attempt.

Despite many chances on the power play, San Jose found themselves down in a 2-0 hole midway during the game. It started when Zach Hyman repositioned Matthews’ shot at 6:58 of the first.

The Sharks had six shots during their two power plays in the period, four during the first and even a shorthanded shot on goal.

They were hoping their luck would turn when a goal by Nazem Kadri morphed into a goaltender interference penalty 3:31 into the second period. San Jose ended up with two shots.

Then, things got worse. With two penalties 23 seconds apart, one goalie interference by Matt Nieto, Matthews scored at 7:46. Perched near the goalline, he took a pass by William Nylander at the top before scoring short side.

The Sharks had three shots during their fifth power play in the third period. With time winding down, Justin Braun broke through after a nice pass by Chris Tierney. With a defender in between him, Braun scored his first of the season from the slot at 12:43.

Just under three minutes later, San Jose took their sixth power play and it finally paid off. Pavelski won the faceoff, sending the puck to Patrick Marleau. Marleau found Brent Burns and Pavelski finished his shot with the famous tip-in flourish just four seconds into the power play to tie the game.

Game notes: The Sharks now have the third longest streak in the NHL with seven games won in a row at Toronto. Half of San Jose’s injuries was on the ice, with David Schlemko returning but Marc-Edouard Vlasic out. The Maple Leafs blocked 21 to the Sharks’ nine shots. San Jose gets right back it again Wednesday at 4pm in Ottawa for a rematch against the Senators.