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Strong game from Nylander, power play not enough to beat San Jose, who top hosts 3-2 on Wennberg’s winner
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Published Dec 11, 2025  • Last updated 22 minutes ago  • 2 minute read
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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby makes a save behind his back against the San Jose Sharks during third period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. Photo by Frank Gunn /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
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William Nylander came alive on Thursday night and so did the Maple Leafs’ power play.
Neither was enough to beat the San Jose Sharks, who rallied to beat the Leafs 3-2 in overtime at Scotiabank Arena.
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Alexander Wennberg scored at 2:48 of the extra period after former Leafs defenceman John Klingberg tied the game with 1:25 remaining in the third.
It was the third consecutive overtime/shootout loss for the Leafs against the Sharks, dating back to March 3 when San Jose also rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 win in Toronto.
The Toronto loss potentially came with more pain as Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson departed the game at 3:22 of the third period after the Sharks’ Adam Gaudette fell into him behind the Leafs net.
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Some big stops by Hildeby
Ekman-Larsson, the Leafs’ steadiest D-man this season, couldn’t put weight on his left leg as he was helped off the ice.
Before the Sharks scored their second goal, San Jose had a goal called back after Leafs coach Craig Berube challenged for offside.
Among Dennis Hildeby’s best stops was a denial of Ty Dellandrea on a penalty shot in the first period. The Sharks forward got the free attempt at 11:46 after Morgan Rielly hooked him on a breakaway but couldn’t fool Hildeby, who made a glove save.
Moved onto a line with Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua as Bobby McMann served a one-game suspension — and also because he needed a fresh look — Nylander snapped a four-game pointless streak with two assists.
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RECOMMENDED VIDEO
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Play VideoRare power-play goal from Matthews
The Leafs scored their first power-play goal in five games when Nylander fed captain Auston Matthews with a cross-ice pass at 14:32 of the second to put Toronto up 2-0.
It was the kind of play that the Leafs are capable of making more often with a man advantage and the kind of goal that Matthews hasn’t been scoring as often as he should considering his talent. The one-timer was just his second power-play goal in 2025-26.
Dmitry Orlov got the Sharks on the board 59 seconds later when he went high and short on Hildeby.
The Leafs took a 1-0 lead at 14:33 of the first when Dakota Joshua re-directed a Jake McCabe shot past Nedeljkovic.
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