Male Leafs batter Sharks, 4-1

In San Jose, the Toronto Maple Leafs are beginning to assert themselves after a slow start to the campaign.

On Friday, the Leafs defeated the Sharks, 4-1, behind offense from the front the front lines.

Auston Matthews picked up his ninth of the campaign in the win.

Joseph Woll made 34 saves in the Toronto win.

John Tavares hit for a goal and two points in the win.

“He (Woll)) had some incredible saves late in the game there,” Tavares said. “Just staying calm and poised. … He doesn’t take things too seriously. … It’s great to see him really get this opportunity and take advantage of it.”

Nick Bonino had the Sharks lone goal in the loss.

The Maple Leafs improved to 15-6-1.

“I thought they were the better team,” Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said. “We didn’t look as fresh as we have in the last couple of games. I didn’t think we had that same pop, and you’ve got to be at your best to beat one of these teams.”

San Jose dropped to 10-9-1.

“It’s tough when you fall down early to a team like that,” San Jose’s Logan Couture said. “We worked hard. Just some breakdowns that cost us.”

Bonino tied the game, 1-1, and Wayne Simmonds  gave the Leafs the lead, again, with a goal in the opening frame.

“We said going into tonight [that] we want to play our style, not theirs,” Couture said. “Their style is feeding off transitions and turnovers. We fed into their style and recipe for a 4-1 loss.”

Tavares and William Nylander scored in the second period to make it 4-1.

“I think we’re seeing what’s giving us success and the type of team we have,” Tavares said. “The way roles are developing and the way the chemistry is kind of building out. When [we’re] having success and results and we’re doing good things, we talk about having an extremely high standard and pushing that level. That’s really what we want to be about.”

James Reimer got the start for the Sharks, but surrendered four goals and made just 13 saves before getting the hook midway through the second period.

Adin Hill made 16 saves in a mop up role..

“It was good for Hill to get in there,” Boughner said. “I was trying to spark the team. Maybe have a little bit of a mental change there. I thought Hill played well while he was in there, so that was important to see. But for [Reimer], it was more of just a rest thing.”