The Toronto Maple Leafs’ five-game winning streak ended Monday night after a 3-2 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks. Despite leading by two goals in the third period, Toronto couldn’t hold on. Fabian Zetterlund scored the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout to seal the Sharks’ first win in nine games.
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Toronto got off to a strong start, with John Tavares and Matthew Knies scoring. Calle Jarnkrok made his season debut after recovering from injuries. After a dull but effective two periods, the Maple Leafs struggled in the third period as the more energetic Sharks pushed back. In overtime, the Maple Leafs started with a power play, but they looked indecisive. William Nylander scored in the shootout’s third round, but Tyler Toffoli responded to keep the game alive. Alexander Georgiev stopped Tavares, and Zetterlund scored the winner.
Item One: Anthony Stolarz Tagged with First Loss Since Return from Injury
Anthony Stolarz’s impressive return to form came to an end. While he wasn’t horrible, he wasn’t the best goalie in the game. Stolarz stopped 20 shots in regulation, but Georgiev had a strong game at the other end of the ice. He made 25 saves for the Sharks and played a key role in his team’s victory.
The 31-year-old Stolarz seemed ready to earn a shutout. But the Sharks mounted a third-period comeback, scoring two quick ones. Stolarz allowed two goals on four shots in the shootout. The result was his first loss since Dec. 6.
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Before Monday’s loss, Stolarz had been flawless, putting up a 5-0-0 in his last six games, with a solid 2.21 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. His strong play after his return from injury kept his team in games they could have lost. Despite the loss, Stolarz’s overall play since his return remains a bright spot for the Maple Leafs.
Item Two: Matthew Knies: Scores 24th Goal of the Season
Matthew Knies continued his solid offence by scoring his 24th goal. The 22-year-old winger delivered another second-period buzzer-beater on the power play with just five seconds remaining. Parked in his usual spot in front of the opposition goalie, he tipped the puck home to give Toronto a two-goal lead heading into the third.
Despite the Sharks’ comeback and the disappointing shootout, Knies extended his point streak to four games. Over that stretch, he’s scored three goals and two assists. It seems he’s growing more impactful in every game. Can he hit the 30-goal milestone? There’s a good chance.
Item Three: John Tavares: Two Points in Monday’s Loss
John Tavares had a productive, two-point game against the Sharks. He scored halfway through the second period, putting in his 24th goal on the power play. He also assisted on Knies’ goal.
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Tavares has been excellent since missing six games in late January with a lower-body injury. Over his last 10 games, he’s put up 10 points (four goals and six assists), with a plus-5 rating. He’s even blocked seven shots. He’s shown no signs of slowing down his production and remains a key asset in Toronto’s offence.
Item Four: Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Timothy Liljegren Returns
It was great to see former Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren face off against his old team for the first time since his October trade to the Sharks. The 2017 first-round pick spent four seasons in Toronto, scoring 75 points in 243 games. Liljegren could never find a permanent place on the Maple Leafs blue line, finding himself in and out of the lineup.
It’s always fun to see former players face their old team, and Liljegren played a solid game. While he didn’t have a game-changing impact, he contributed to his team’s overall performance. Good luck to Liljegren with the Sharks.
Item Five: The Loss Reminds Fans of the Team’s Fatigue and Tough Schedule
The loss is frustrating. However, it also puts things into perspective. It should remind fans how fortunate the Maple Leafs were during their five-game winning streak. Somehow, they’ve navigated a gruelling schedule with several injuries. Monday was their first game back at Scotiabank Arena since Feb. 22, and now they face another road trip that won’t see them return home until March 13.
With just one home game in 18 days, the team looked tired in the third period and couldn’t hold onto their lead. Call me a glass-half-full guy, but fans might want to chalk this loss up to a demanding schedule that took its toll. The recent games showed the team’s ability to beat a tough Boston Bruins squad and hang on to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. The streak probably should have ended a couple of games ago.
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The Maple Leafs still picked up a point in the standings, which could be crucial in the tight Atlantic Division race. It’s clear that the team needs to make wiser plays and finish games more effectively, but this loss is far from the gloom and doom I heard after the contest. The Maple Leafs were a tired team after a demanding schedule.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs are tied with the Florida Panthers at the top of the division standings with 79 points and a game in hand. They still face a packed schedule ahead, and it will be interesting to see how they play on this next tough road trip. It’s time to shake off the loss and win a few more games on the road. The Maple Leafs are still solid.
Tomorrow night, the Maple Leafs visit the Vegas Golden Knights. Saturday, they are in Colorado to visit the Avalanche, and they finish their road trip on Monday against the Utah Hockey Club.
