TORONTO — The San Jose Sharks visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
Mason Marchment scored, but the Sharks lost 3-1.
Period 1
1 in: Misa too casual going back with puck, loses it to Nylander. Has to be more aware. Pace just hasn’t caught up yet.
3 in: Dickinson cuts in to net, tries a beaut backhand. Like the confidence.
9 left: Stenberg comes out of wall pile with puck, decisively, which is how he’s looked all night. He may say Toronto passing on him doesn’t bug him, but he’s a competitor.
7 left: Telegraphed PP entry pass by Marchment, frittering away valuable time.
Marchment goal: Great work by Toffoli high, picked off an exit pass, and threw it toward the net where Marchment still was, all alone. Marchment did the rest. How many killer passes does Toffoli have to make for the fanbase to forgive his lack of footspeed? So far this year, have to say, he just makes plays.
6 left: Sharp Celebrini dump-in, Smith doesn’t win it but he can touch it, give it to Kesselring. Kesselring shows his patience in corner, waits for lane to Smith, who laces the one-timer. Big Bobrovsky save.
Orlov penalty: Period turning point. Not a good penalty from Orlov, reaching out there. San Jose Sharks were having a good kill, now have to kill a 5-on-3 for a minute though.
3 left: Another solid Sharks kill. Trouba comes out, and puck is high, he basically throws it down the length of the ice. Then Goodrow, strong stick in the slot on Marchenko, Dickinson sprawls out to stop a pass.
10 seconds left, Dickinson takes in time and place, just lofts it down the ice soft so there’s on icing, good read there. He’s getting it.
Solid Sharks period, though NST seemed to make it more even than I thought. I thought San Jose better, more dangerous at 5-on-5.
Period 2
7 in: Askarov gloves McCabe shot. He’s looked calm and collected so far. Big game for him, lots of eyes on him.
8 in: Now an Askarov stop on a Nylander one-timer. I liked the San Jose Sharks’ first period, but the Leafs have been clearly better in the second.
9 in: Now Sissons with a bang-bang one-timer, great McKenna feed, Askarov stands tall. Sharks need to find their form, but Askarov also needed a game like this. Now’s time for the San Jose Sharks to push back though, they’re starting to leave Askarov out to dry.
10 in: Kesselring telegraphs an exit pass, counterattack, and while his skating helps Sharks avoid damage
9 left: Brilliant Smith move high, but then overpassing, I think, from Celebrini and Smith. I feel these are the moments, Leafs have controlled play in period, just smash a shot and crash the net. Don’t need to create a Grade-A. Feel of the game.
8 left: Best San Jose Sharks forecheck and cycle shift of the period, courtesy of the Wennberg line. Just back to the basics.
6 left: Just marvelous backhanded spin-o-rama stretch pass from Celebrini to Smith. Only 71 has license for that pretty much on this team. Then terrific pressure from that line, the Sharks are picking it up.
4 left: Tough power play for Orlov, took puck to face, and crushed by Duhaime on forecheck.
3 left: Getting a little too wide-open, but Misa had set up a Trouba one-timer from the middle top of the circles. Big save, then Leafs come down for 2-on-1, Nylander to Matthews, but beaut desperation defense by Dickinson, stops the pass.
2 left: Great forecheck effort by Sherwood on Stecher, the defenseman wasn’t ready for that.
1 left: San Jose Sharks surging, wrong time for a too many men of the ice penalty. Looks like Celebrini jumped too early? Not a good penalty.
Matthews goal: Matthews takes a couple steps away from Goodrow low, Marchenko quick pass, Matthews isn’t missing from there. Tough way to end the period.
Period 3
2 in: Good vision by Graf to drop it off to Nurse, backhander touches post. Graf, despite lack of production, looks overall more dangerous to me this year. I think points will come, especially with more offensive responsibility.
McKenna goal: That’ll change the narrative, at least for a night here. Goodrow had a big block, but the Sharks couldn’t clear it. Just too many penalties is the story of this game right now. Let’s see if the Sharks can answer back, find their game. Wennberg to the locker room won’t help.
5 in: Brilliant Smith centering pass, but Celebrini crossbar. So close!
6 in: Graf is centering Toffoli and Marchment now. But Wennberg now back on the bench, good news.
9 left: Good PK trackback by Stenberg, but felt like he forced the pass to Smith there right before.
8 left: San Jose Sharks power play seem to be struggling with entries.
6 left: Sherwood drop to Graf in slot, great chance.
4 left: Sherwood there though, in slot, shoot it! Extra pass, no chance.
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