With the game seemingly headed to overtime, the San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl picked a spot on the short side and potted a goal to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs with just over a minute left in regulation.
“I wasn’t sure if it was in, but Patty made a great play to hold the puck and free guys in
Joe Pavelski scored empty-netter to seal win over Leafs – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
the [offensive] zone,” Hertl said.
Joe Pavelski then sealed the win with an empty-netter.
“They were physically stronger and more determined on pucks than we were. We have to be better at those things. Every once in a while you get a lesson, and you have to learn the lesson,” Toronto head coach Mike Babcock said.
Martin Jones made 20 saves for San Jose as the Sharks improved to 37-18-7 and have a five-point cushion for fist place in the Pacific Division.
“We just stuck with it. I loved our first period. We were unfortunate to be out of that period without being up. We should have been up. Second period, I thought they pushed back a little, and I thought the third we put our foot back on the gas again and finally got rewarded,” San Jose head coach Peter DeBoer said of the Sharks’ game effort.
Auston Matthews was the lone goal scorer for the Leafs.
Brenden Dillon so scored.
“We had a good shift there,” Dillon said. “We were kind of buzzing down low. We were having the cycle game. I think we got them a little tired, and [Labanc] made a great play through the middle. I kind of got my head up, had a little bit of time, so I thought I’d try the slapper instead of the wrist shot, and I was fortunate to find a hole.”
Brian Boyle played in his game in Maple Leafs sweater after being acquired form the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“It’s always tough in this building,” Boyle said. “It’s a real good team we’re playing. If we want to get to where we want to get to, you have to win these hard road games. It all comes down to who gets the next one at the end. That was the focus. I just tried to do my part.”
WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Sharks highlights
Frederik Andersen took the loss on 34 saves.
“It’s a tough way to end a game,” Andersen said. “We were close to getting a point at least and having a chance to win it. Tough last play there. You hate to see it happen.”
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