Tim Heed, Joe Pavelski and Joel Ward each scored to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Patrick Marleau's first game back at SAP Center. Heed gave the Sharks their first lead of the game, 2-1, with a power-play goal at 4:11 of the third period. The rookie defenseman beat goalie Frederik Andersen high to the far side with a slap shot from above the right face-off circle.
"I saw that their defenseman was a bit more on the strong side, so I saw an opening on the far side," said Heed, who had an assist. "I hit it pretty good and it went in, so it's a good feeling."
Ward scored an empty-net goal with 2:13 left in the third to give San Jose a 3-1 lead, but Toronto defenseman Andreas Borgman scored his first NHL goal with 1:10 remaining to cut the lead to 3-2. Marleau, who played his first 19 NHL seasons with San Jose, faced the Sharks for the first time since signing with the Maple Leafs as a free agent July 2. The 38-year-old forward was minus-2 with two shots on goal in 14:16. He was honored with a pregame video tribute and received a standing ovation while under a spotlight on the ice.
"It was humbling," Marleau said. "It was extremely special to be honored like that by the Sharks and the organization and the fans. I'll never forget it."
San Jose center Joe Thornton got his 1,399th NHL point with an assist on Pavelski's goal in the second period to move past Jari Kurri for 20th in NHL history. It was the 10th consecutive win for the Sharks (6-5-0) against the Maple Leafs (7-5-0).
"We got contributions from everybody. I think a little bit of fear in the belly from the highest scoring team in the League (entering Monday) coming in here maybe grabs your attention a little bit. I think our guys did a really good job of executing the game plan and sticking with it for 60 minutes."
Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs, who lost for the fourth time in their past five games (1-4-0).
"We've been turning the puck over too much," Matthews said. "We stop that, we can win. I thought our work ethic and competing was much better tonight. We need to get out of the little funk we're in."
Martin Jones made 16 saves for the Sharks. Andersen had 36 for the Maple Leafs. Matthews scored his ninth of the season at 12:14 of the first period to give Toronto a 1-0 lead. After Sharks defenseman Justin Braun blocked defenseman Nikita Zaitsev's shot, Matthews raced to the loose puck in the low slot and put a wrist shot past Jones. Pavelski tied it 1-1 at 7:58 of the second period with his third goal. He redirected Heed's point shot past Andersen from the low slot.
"Just tried to get to the net," Pavelski said. "Puck found a way through. Made a tip, and it's good to see them go in, for sure."
"It was great. I had a tear in my eye. I don't know how the fans, how they reacted. You spend so much time with him, he's like a brother. You spend 13 years with the guy, you create such a big bond with him. It was classy." -- Sharks center Joe Thornton on former teammate Patrick Marleau being honored before his first game back in San Jose
"I thought San Jose did a great job of putting pressure on us in our zone, and we turned the puck over way too much. Partly because they were working hard and coming at us from behind. That made them quicker. We never got on top of them." -- Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock
Toronto forwards Matt Martin (upper body) and James van Riemsdyk (lower body) each returned to the lineup after missing one game because of injury. ... The Sharks outshot the Maple Leafs 39-18. The 21-shot advantage was their largest of the season, and the 18 shots allowed were the fewest.
Ward scored an empty-net goal with 2:13 left in the third to give San Jose a 3-1 lead, but Toronto defenseman Andreas Borgman scored his first NHL goal with 1:10 remaining to cut the lead to 3-2. Marleau, who played his first 19 NHL seasons with San Jose, faced the Sharks for the first time since signing with the Maple Leafs as a free agent July 2. The 38-year-old forward was minus-2 with two shots on goal in 14:16. He was honored with a pregame video tribute and received a standing ovation while under a spotlight on the ice.
"It was humbling," Marleau said. "It was extremely special to be honored like that by the Sharks and the organization and the fans. I'll never forget it."
San Jose center Joe Thornton got his 1,399th NHL point with an assist on Pavelski's goal in the second period to move past Jari Kurri for 20th in NHL history. It was the 10th consecutive win for the Sharks (6-5-0) against the Maple Leafs (7-5-0).
"We got contributions from everybody. I think a little bit of fear in the belly from the highest scoring team in the League (entering Monday) coming in here maybe grabs your attention a little bit. I think our guys did a really good job of executing the game plan and sticking with it for 60 minutes."
Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs, who lost for the fourth time in their past five games (1-4-0).
"We've been turning the puck over too much," Matthews said. "We stop that, we can win. I thought our work ethic and competing was much better tonight. We need to get out of the little funk we're in."
Martin Jones made 16 saves for the Sharks. Andersen had 36 for the Maple Leafs. Matthews scored his ninth of the season at 12:14 of the first period to give Toronto a 1-0 lead. After Sharks defenseman Justin Braun blocked defenseman Nikita Zaitsev's shot, Matthews raced to the loose puck in the low slot and put a wrist shot past Jones. Pavelski tied it 1-1 at 7:58 of the second period with his third goal. He redirected Heed's point shot past Andersen from the low slot.
"Just tried to get to the net," Pavelski said. "Puck found a way through. Made a tip, and it's good to see them go in, for sure."
"It was great. I had a tear in my eye. I don't know how the fans, how they reacted. You spend so much time with him, he's like a brother. You spend 13 years with the guy, you create such a big bond with him. It was classy." -- Sharks center Joe Thornton on former teammate Patrick Marleau being honored before his first game back in San Jose"I thought San Jose did a great job of putting pressure on us in our zone, and we turned the puck over way too much. Partly because they were working hard and coming at us from behind. That made them quicker. We never got on top of them." -- Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock
Toronto forwards Matt Martin (upper body) and James van Riemsdyk (lower body) each returned to the lineup after missing one game because of injury. ... The Sharks outshot the Maple Leafs 39-18. The 21-shot advantage was their largest of the season, and the 18 shots allowed were the fewest.
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