Strong Effort “Tanked” In San Jose

For forty minutes on Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks, the Maple Leafs appeared to be on their way to salvaging at least some shred of dignity from a road trip that had all but removed any remaining hope for contention this season. Then the third period happened and it was the same old story that has befallen the Maple Leafs so often this season: strong effort early in the game wasted due to clueless play down the stretch.

Unlike the previous two games of this road trip in Anaheim and Los Angeles where a goal was given up early in the first period, the Maple Leafs actually got on the scoreboard first against the Sharks when Nik Antropov scored just over three minutes into the game. Toronto seemed to derive some confidence off of this early tally which was apparent in their defensive game. The Sharks were prevented from generating quality scoring opportunities or much speed in their transition game due to stingy work in the defensive zone from the Maple Leafs. Vesa Toskala provided quality netminding when called upon, though his job was made far easier by a more confident-looking team in front of him.

The story was much the same in the second period with the Maple Leafs again scoring an early goal, this time off the stick of Pavel Kubina, and then shoring up the defensive side of the ice not allowing San Jose to develop any flow in their offensive attack. However, Boyd Deveraux took a slashing penalty late in the second period which carried over into the third, giving San Jose the chance to start the final frame on the attack.

Patrick Marleau cut the Maple Leafs lead to one goal early in the third period before Deveraux was out of the penalty box. Later in the period, the Maple Leafs got into more penalty trouble affording the Sharks a lengthy five on three power play. Craig Rivet tied the game with the Sharks up two men on a blast from the point at 8:31. Less than two minutes later, Joe Pavelski scored what would turn out to be the game winning goal for San Jose.

The Maple Leafs will look to finally get back in the win column then they take on the Carolina Hurricanes at Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night.