Mitchell Marner powers Leafs to lopsided win over Sharks
Tuesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting San Jose Sharks 7-1 thanks to two goals and two assists from Mitchell Marner.
The Sharks have dropped their last 12 games in a row, all in close games.
The Maple Leafs, who have won four straight, added two goals and two assists from Jake McCabe and one goal and an assist from Morgan Rielly. Toronto also had goals from Auston Matthews, Nicholas Robertson, and Pontus Holmberg. William Nylander provided three assists after agreeing to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension on Monday.
Before being replaced early in the second period by Mackenzie Blackwood, who made 22 saves, Kaapo Kahkonen allowed four goals on 20 shots for San Jose. At 16:48 in the first period, Nylander’s pass into the low slot set up Rielly’s fifth goal of the season. At 17:22 in the first, during a power play, Matthews scored his 31st goal of the season with a sharp-angled shot from the right faceoff circle. Alexander Barabanov was off the ice for holding.
After one frame, Toronto had a 16–5 advantage in shots on goal.
At 54 seconds into the second half, Marner scored by deflecting a shot from McCabe.
At 2:06 of the second, Holmberg scored his first goal of the season with a one-handed flick shot. Blackwood took over for San Jose in goal.
At 7:21 of the second period, Thrun scored his first NHL goal after Mikael Granlund passed to him during a power play. For hooking, Simon Benoit was sent off the ice.
After the second, Toronto had a 35–13 advantage in shots on goal.
At 1:27 in the third, McCabe scored his second goal of the year.
During a power play, the Maple Leafs scored twice while Scott Sabourin was given a double minor for high-sticking.
At 4 minutes into the third quarter, Marner scored his 17th goal of the year, and at 5:54, Robertson scored his sixth.
