Sharks Rally to Defeat Maple Leafs 3-2 in Shootout; Win ends San Jose’s 8 game loss streak

San Jose Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli (73) is thrilled after scoring his third period goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Mon Mar 3, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks won 3-2 in a shootout against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jack Thompson and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Sharks. Toffoli and Fabian Zetterlund scored to win the shootout. Alexandar Georgiev made 25 saves and three in the shootout for the win. John Tavares and Matthew Knies scored for the Maple Leafs, and William Nylander scored in the shootout. Anthony Stolarz made 20 saves and two in the shootout loss.

The win ended an eight-game losing streak and, for the Leafs, it ended a five-game win streak. The Sharks not only won, but came back from a two goal deficit to start the third period. Also to the Sharks’ credit, the two goals they gave up came on the power play. The game was hard won for the Sharks.

John Tavares scored the first goal after a scoreless first period. At 8:28 of the second, Tavares tipped a shot from Mitch Marner on a power play. Assists went to Marner and Nylander.

Matthew Knies made it 2-0 at 19:55 of the second, again on the power play. Knies redirected Auston Matthews’ shot from the goal line. An assist also went to Tavares.

Jack Thompson started the Sharks comeback at 2:23 of the third. Alexander Wennberg sent the puck in from the blue line. The shot went off of the boards behi8nd the net and back up to Thompson for a shot form above the faceoff dot. Assists went to Wennberg and William Eklund.

Tyler Toffoli tied the game at 10:10. Wennberg carried the puck into the zone, around behind the net and then centered it for a waiting Toffoli. An assist also went to Shakir Mukhamadullin.

In the shootout, Georgiev stopped Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and John Tavares. William Nylander scored.

Stolarz stopped Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Tyler Toffoli and Fabian Zetterlund scored.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday at 4:00 PM PT in Buffalo against the Sabres.

NHL Stanley Cup playoffs podcast with Matt Harrington: Leafs Knies listed out for games 3 and 4; Carolina goes up 2-0 on New Jersey; plus more

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies will be out for games 3 and 4 of the playoffs after getting hit by the Florida Panthers Sam Bennett. Knies was knocked to the ice and suffered a concussion. (file photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcast with Matt:

#1 The Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies will have to sit out the next two games due to a concussion. Knies left during a 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers when the Panthers Sam Bennett hit Knies and knocked him to the ice for concussion.

#2 The Panther’s Bennett has kept himself busy not only did he knock the Leafs Knies to the ice to give Knies a concussion but Bennett also cross checked the Leafs Michael Bunting and picked a $5,000 fine and a minor at 15:00 of the second period during Thursday’s game.

#3 The Carolina Hurricanes won game two with authority on Friday night 6-1 to go up 2-0 in the second round of the playoffs to the New Jersey Devils.

#4 The Hurricanes Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored twice for the Canes in just a two and half minute span. The Hurricanes were lighting up the lamp scoring four times in the second period and putting a lot of distance between them and the Devils.

#5 Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Anderson was sharp all night stopping 28 out of 29 shots and was able to stop some close shots by New Jersey. Anderson’s save percentage for game two was .966 and he was defending like the Devils had no chance to put the puck in the net.

Join Matt for the NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com