Pavelski’s two goals help Sharks past Leafs 6-2

SAN JOSE – A 6-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night moved the San Jose Sharks within two points of the Anaheim Ducks in the race for the Pacific Division lead.
One night after defeating the Ducks 3-1, the Maple Leafs were outshot 48-21 and were touched by four unanswered goals after creating an early 1-1 tie.
The Sharks start a three-game roadtrip Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Islanders and Rangers provide the competition Friday and Sunday.
Toronto brought a three-game winning streak into SAP Center. When the Sharks, on the way to a third straight victory, hit the scoreboard first on Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s goal at 3:58 of the opening period, the Leafs countered with an equalizer 25 seconds later on a Jake Gardiner goal.
By the end of the second period, San Jose enjoyed a 4-1 lead along with a 31-12 margin in shots on net.
The first of three assists by Joe Thornton set up Brent Burns for his 18th goal of the season at 11:04 of the first period.
Justin Braun’s hard shot from the left point was redirected by Tommy Wingels past goaltender James Reimer for a 3-1 San Jose cushion 6:54 into the second period. Joe Pavelski snapped his 33^rd goal of the year past Reimer off a cross-ice pass from Thornton at the 8:13 mark for the 4-1 lead.
Pavelski pulled the same move at 4:26 of the third period when he turned Jason Demers’ cross-ice pass into a goal from the bottom of the left circle. The goal, making it 5-1, was Pavelski’s 26^th career multi-goal game. Thornton was credited with the secondary assist.
Gardiner added a second goal for the visitors, short-handed off a 3-2 rush at 14:56 of the third. The Sharks regained the four-game margin when Marty Havlat lifted a short shot through traffic in front of the Leaf net at the 16:33 mark.
NOTES: Pavelski’s second-period goal was his 400^th NHL point…Andrew Desjardins played in his 200^th career MHL game…Goaltender Antti Niemi improved to 32-13-6 for the season.