On March 27, 2025, the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a 6-5 decision to the San Jose Sharks in a shootout at SAP Center, kicking off their California road trip with a loss despite a late rally. John Tavares and William Nylander scored in the third period to erase a 5-3 deficit, forcing overtime, but San Jose’s Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini sealed the win in the skills competition. The defeat left Toronto with a 41-19-7 record and 89 points, still atop the Atlantic Division, while the Sharks improved to 27-34-6, offering a rare bright spot in their rebuilding season.
The game unfolded as a high-scoring affair from the start. San Jose jumped ahead 2-0 in the first period, with Celebrini scoring at 5:19 on a breakaway and Tyler Toffoli adding a power-play goal at 12:47 off a feed from Jake Walman. Toronto responded late in the frame when Mitch Marner buried a wrist shot past Sharks goaltender Alexandar Georgiev at 17:32, his 26th of the season. The second period saw the teams trade goals: Auston Matthews tied it at 2-2 with his league-leading 53rd at 3:14, only for Smith to restore San Jose’s lead at 8:09. Nylander’s first of the night at 14:22 knotted the score again, but Fabian Zetterlund’s tip-in at 18:50 gave the Sharks a 4-3 edge heading into the third.
San Jose extended their lead early in the final period when Mikael Granlund scored at 2:03, capitalizing on a turnover by Morgan Rielly. Facing a 5-3 deficit, Toronto mounted a comeback. Tavares redirected a Matthews shot at 9:17 for his 22nd goal, and Nylander tied it at 15:44 with a backhander off a Marner pass, his 33rd. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz stopped 27 of 32 shots through regulation and overtime, while Georgiev made 30 saves on 35 attempts. In the shootout, Smith and Celebrini beat Stolarz, while Matthews was Toronto’s only scorer, ending the night in San Jose’s favor.
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe addressed the result post-game, saying, “We fought back, but we can’t keep digging holes like that. It’s a point, but we need to be sharper.” The loss highlighted Toronto’s offensive firepower—five goals from their top line—but exposed defensive lapses that have plagued them at times this season. With 15 games left, the Leafs remain in a tight race with the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins for the division lead, making every point critical as the playoffs loom.
San Jose’s victory offered a glimpse of their future. Celebrini, the 2024 first overall pick, and Smith, selected fourth in 2023, showcased their skill in the shootout, signaling progress for a team that finished with 47 points last year. GM Mike Grier praised their poise, noting, “Those two are the foundation we’re building on. Nights like this show what’s possible.” The Sharks’ 60 points this season reflect incremental improvement, though they sit well outside the playoff picture in the Pacific Division, trailing the Anaheim Ducks by nine points.
Toronto’s season has been defined by its star-studded core. Matthews, chasing a second straight Rocket Richard Trophy, leads the NHL with 53 goals and 89 points, while Nylander’s 33 goals and Marner’s 58 assists rank among the league’s best. Tavares, at 34, remains a steady presence with 51 points. Yet, the Leafs’ 2.81 goals-against average—12th in the NHL—points to vulnerabilities, particularly in net. Stolarz, acquired in the offseason, has a 2.67 GAA and .912 save percentage in 25 starts, solid but not elite, raising questions about Toronto’s postseason ceiling.
The Sharks leaned on Georgiev, traded from Colorado in July, who has stabilized their goaltending with a 2.89 GAA across 42 starts. Toffoli’s 24 goals lead the team, with Granlund and Zetterlund chipping in 18 and 16, respectively. San Jose’s 47.2% Corsi-for percentage underscores their rebuilding status, but their 112 goals since January 1 rank mid-pack, hinting at offensive growth driven by young talent.
For Leafs fans searching for NHL news, this game underscores ongoing debates. Toronto’s 19-9-5 road record remains strong, but losses like this fuel calls for defensive upgrades before the April 3 trade deadline. On X, reactions ranged from “Same old Leafs, can’t close it out” to “Nylander and Matthews keep us in every game.” The point earned keeps Toronto ahead of Florida by two points, with a game in hand, but consistency will be key against Anaheim and Los Angeles later in the trip.
San Jose’s win, while a footnote in the standings, boosts morale. Their next game against Vancouver on March 29 tests their momentum, while Toronto faces Anaheim on March 29, aiming to rebound. The Leafs’ playoff path likely runs through the Atlantic, where they’ve split series with Boston and Florida this year. A first-round exit in 2024—losing 4-3 to the Bruins—looms as motivation, with Matthews saying, “We’ve got to learn from nights like this and move on.”
As March 28 dawns, Toronto remains a contender, but the Sharks’ upset serves as a reminder of the NHL’s unpredictability. For those tracking the Leafs in 2025, this shootout loss is a bump in a season still poised for success—if they can tighten their game.
