In Toronto, Mitchell Marner needed some magic with time winding down on Wednesday night. The Maple Leafs were up, 2-1, with 71 seconds on the clock and he had not scored or added a point on the sheet. 
“That was really special. That meant a lot,” said Marner, who received a standing ovation as the goal was announced to the crowd. “I’ve got my family here, and it was a special moment. Obviously, they’re not beside me, but I’m sure they were in the crowd loving that moment too, and just taking it in with me. It was a special moment to grow up in this city, be a huge fan of this team, and now have my name with a couple unbelievable players, it’s pretty special. That kid growing up would have never expected this, and now that it’s kind of a reality, it’s a cool moment, but obviously winning the game is more important.”
With the San Jose Sharks’ net empty, Marner missed a perfect chance to get the point, he needed one more chance and got it when Alexander Kerfoot passed to him from the Leafs defensive zone to the Sharks blue line.
Marner only had to guide the puck to push his point streak to 18 games.
He is now tied for the longest point streak in Maple Leafs history.
Ilya Samsonov made 23 saves in a a 3-1 win for Toronto over the Sharks.
The Maple Leafs improved to 15-5-5.
“We’re in a good place here now and feeling good as a team,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We’ve got a lot of confidence and feel we are where we should be. If we started better, we’d be in an even better spot, but maybe if we didn’t start the way we did, maybe we don’t have as good a November. A lot of things happen over 82 games. Feel good about this month, but the calendar is going to turn.”
Auston Matthews staked Toronto to a 1-0 lead in the second period.
“We’re all so pumped for [Marner],” Matthews said. “During this stretch, he’s been playing unbelievable leading our team on both sides of the puck and just competing every night. We’re all so happy for him. It took to the last minute of the game and a few scares, but we’re happy he got it.”
San Jose tied it, 1-1, three minutes later off a strike from Matt Nieto.
“It’s tough,” Nieto said. “Everyone in this room thinks we played good enough to at least get a point there. It’s just unfortunate we give up one late and we’re clawing back with two minutes to go and just can’t seem to get one. So, that one hurts.”
The Sharks dropped to 8-14-4.
The score held at 1-1 until 2:27 was left on the regulation, Pierre Engvall scored the game-winner for Toronto.
“Kampf did a good job putting it out there to Kerfoot, and I think he shot it at the pad there for me,” Engvall said. “I just saw the puck bounce out and I just tried to shoot it on the net, so it was nice to get it in.”
Marner added the insurance with 1:11 left in the game for the 3-1 final.
Aaron Dell made 29 saves in the San Jose loss.
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