SAN JOSE – Starting a seven-game home stand on a successful note, the San Jose Sharks made a pair of first-period goals in an 11-second span hold up, pinning a 3-1 loss on the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night.
The victory left the Sharks with 53 points after 45 games, good for sixth place in the Western Conference. San Jose hosts Calgary Saturday, then New Jersey and Los Angeles next week before the All-Star break.
Justin Braun assisted on the two goals midway through the first period.
The first goal came about after Braun’s cross-ice pass allowed Brenden Dillon to whip a shot at goaltender James Reimer. The puck bounded off Reimer’s pads to a waiting Tyler Kennedy at the edge of the crease. Kennedy patiently controlled the puck before lifting it over the prone Reimer at the 8:55 mark.
Patrick Marleau scored the game-winning goal at 9:06. The 35-year old winger rushed the puck into the Toronto zone before snapping a low shot between Reimer’s pads. The goal was originally waived off by a referee, but an off-ice review determined that Marleau’s goal had gone over the goalline
Marleau moved into a tie with Pierre Turgeon and Joe Sakic in 19th place in NHL history with his 86th game-winning goal.
Toronto denied Antti Niemi a shutout when Roman Polak pushed a short shot inside the left post just before Niemi was able to slide to the post at 11:57 of the first period.
After a scoreless second period, the Sharks locked up the win on Tommy Wingels’ empty-net goal with 49.2 seconds left in the third period.
Logan Couture fired seven shots on net, Marleau six as San Jose created a 42-25 edge in shots. The Sharks managed a 17-4 edge in shots in the second period.
Â
