Recap: Maple Leafs can't out shootout the Sharks

Tonight the Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed back Timothy Liljegren after he was traded last year to the San Jose Sharks.

Ahead of the game they made several AHL transactions moving players about, and ended up with these lines:

Most importantly, it was the return of Calle Järnkrok to the Maple Leafs lineup this season!

The start of the game began fast with constant up and down play, puck turnovers, and a noticeable lack of whistles until an icing call after two minutes.

Things slow a little bit afterwards, then John Tavares is called for interference against Fabian Zetterlund.

The Sharks come close on the power play, with Macklin Celebrini testing Anthony Stolarz early on, but the Leafs kill the penalty.

The Leafs get their turn when former Leaf Carl Grundstrom gets called for tripping Jake McCabe.

The power play does a good job of passing and setting up plays, but a fumbled puck and a reaching defender break it up. The Leafs recover but Alexander Georgiev makes the save.

No power play goal for the Leafs either.

The Leafs pick up their game and get some good shots off on the Sharks net, and after a couple chances the Sharks clear but the action stays in their zone when Phillippe Meyers rocks Barclay Goodrow with a big hit, and Mario Ferraro comes to his aid and the two scuffle. Will Smith sits in the box for two minutes as the sacrificial player to instigating.

Once again the Leafs power play gets all the chances it wants to pass and play, but they can not beat Georgiev and go 0/2 as we hit the final minute of the period.

After 20 minutes, no score.

The second begins with the Leafs taking control once again and the first minute is spent trying to get the puck past Georgiev, but the Leafs can't figure him out on San Jose any better than they could when he was in New York.

The first five minutes are pretty uneventful, until Max Domi gets Ty Dellandrea in the face with the butt end of his stick, and called for roughing. Another test for the Leafs PK that they pass.

Coming off the penalty, the Leafs head back into the Sharks zone, and William Nylander gets the crowd making some noise as he generates a couple chances, but no roar of the crowd as the tie remains.

The Sharks make an attempt, but we have a goalie duel happening tonight as they show off their skills.

A battle of the goalies and a parade to the penalty box. Tyler Toffoli gets two minutes for hooking Nick Robertson.

Third time is the charm for the Leafs, as Tavares and Marner team up to break the ice with goal number one. Matthew Knies screens Georgiev as Marner shoots and Tavares tips.

1-0 Leafs as we approach the halfway point of the game.

After the faceoff to resume play, Max Domi ends up with a breakaway but he can't backhand that puck over Georgievs pads.

Speaking of Georgiev, he comes out of his net to catch a rolling puck, but Nylander knocks it away from him, but it goes the wrong way and he can't take advantage of the empty net. Great play though, and he gives the Leafs a chance to double up.

I didn't have high hopes for the Leafs - always assume they'll play down to a bad teams level - but they are controlling things tonight and getting the puck all around the young Sharks. Lots of good chances, lots of good puck handling, but they can not beat Georgiev. I do not like this guy.

Pontus Holberg is taking the puck into the Sharks end, and the frustration from San Jose is coming out as Holmberg is pushed across the blue line by Dellandrea then tripping by Luke Kunin, and the Leafs have their fourth power play of the game.

Once again, the Leafs power play works hard, takes advantage of the Sharks missteps, and with seconds left in the period Matthew Knies screens the goalie once again, and gets a bouncing puck into the net, winning the stick battle against the Sharks defender.

After the horn, it's 2-0 Leafs. Toronto also leads in shots 20-10.

The Sharks refuse to stop trying, even though the Leafs are undefeated this year when leading after two periods, and Jack Thompson gets a puck deflected off the boards behind the net and shoots it past Stolarz, to cut the Leafs lead to one.

2-1 Leafs at the start of the third.

Things slow down just a little after that goal. Leafs playing a little safer - Nylander aside, who is on a mission tonight - and we aren't rushing things as much. Protect the lead.

Alex Wennberg is looking for his 100th goal tonight, but is settling for racking up the assists as he finds Tyler Toffoli in front of the net, and sets him up easily for the game tying goal. It was a bad play all around by the Leafs.

2-2 with just under 10 minutes to go.

As the clock ticks down to the final five minutes, both teams pick up speed to try and get the final goal before the buzzer sounds to end the period. It's clear no one wants overtime in this game, especially Toronto.

The Sharks have been more offensively focused in the third, getting nine shots to the Leafs four on net.

As the clock approaches zeroes, the Leafs make a late push, but can't get it into the net. A plus as we head into overtime, Luke Kunin is called for hooking David Kampf and the Leafs will be at four on three for almost half of overtime.

The Leafs are setting up a nice tight position around the Sharks net for short quick passes to set up the shots. The passes are working, but nothing is going in and Georgiev isn't giving up rebounds.

90 seconds of this and no goals before the Sharks clear the zone. Matthews, Marner, Nylander, and Tavares are working hard to get the win but it's not happening. Leafs take a time out to rest the players after a long long shift.

The time out ends, the powerplay ends, and we finally get some line changes.

The Sharks also get their first taste of offense in overtime and throw pucks at the Leafs net, but Stolarz stays on top of them.

The Sharks are looking for a shootout, as they get control and keep skating back out of the Leafs end. They force Stolarz to act fast occasionally, but are clearly looking to neutralize the Leafs talent at five on three and go one on one with the goalie.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will now have their first shootout of the season.

Marner takes the first shot, and breaks his stick on the shot, which sends the puck sideways.

Celebrini can't get past Stolarz who sits legs open to make the save with his cup.

Auston Matthews is number two, but Georgiev makes the save as Auston comes in close.

Will Smith comes in slow and sidewinding, but he can't shake Stolarz, who sweeps the leg to make a crazy save on his stomach.

William Nylander is the one to score, finally putting one in the back of the net after 65 minutes of trying.

All the pressure is on Tyler Toffoli. And he gets it up high over Stolarz to tie the game. Again.

John Tavares, can't put it in, get's poke checked.

Fabian Zetterlund, Sharks number four. Goes wide, rips it in, and the Sharks win in the shootout.

The Toronto Maple Leafs fall after leading two periods for the first time this season, and in their first shootout.

It was not a terrible loss, though all losses are terrible. The Leafs will go to bed tonight then pack for a road trip out west, with game one Wednesday night in Vegas. It's a 10PM eastern start on TSN4.

See you then!