Sharks use late rally to beat Maple Leafs in overtime

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 36 minutes ago • 2 minute read

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 PRESS

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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Rare 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.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

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