Toffoli scores twice and Sharks edge Maple Leafs 6-5 in a shootout after blowing late lead

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San Jose Sharks center Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025.(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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San Jose Sharks center Tyler Toffoli (73) scores a goal past Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025.(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) skates past San Jose Sharks center Tyler Toffoli (73) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton, left, celebrates with Chris Tanev (8) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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San Jose Sharks center Alexander Wennberg (21) smiles as he is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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San Jose Sharks right wing Collin Graf (51) reacts after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025.(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi, center, fights with San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk (63) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews (34) is congratulated by John Tavares (91) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) looks back as Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) scores a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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San Jose Sharks right wing Collin Graf (51) scores a goal past Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 27, 2025.(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By GIDEON RUBIN

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Toffoli scored two goals and had an assist and the San Jose Sharks defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in a shootout after blowing a late lead Thursday night.

Collin Graf, Alexander Wennberg and William Eklund also scored for the Sharks, who led 5-3 with less than a minute left.

John Tavares cut Toronto’s deficit to one with 59 seconds remaining and William Nylander tied it 45 seconds later with his second goal of the game.

Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini scored in the shootout and Alexandar Georgiev stopped Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to seal the win after allowing Nylander to score on Toronto’s first shootout shot. Georgiev made 30 saves in regulation.

Matthews and Scott Laughton had second-period goals for Toronto. Joseph Woll made 30 saves.

Takeaways

Maple Leafs: Toronto opened its three-game California road trip in inauspicious fashion for its seventh loss in 12 games (5-6-1).

Sharks: An impressive upset win gave San Jose something to build on.

Key moment

Graf became the first Sharks rookie to score a short-handed goal since Tomas Plihal did it against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 11, 2008.

Key stat

Wennberg’s goal was the 100th of his career.

Up next

Toronto plays at Los Angeles on Saturday and San Jose hosts the New York Rangers on Saturday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl