WATCH: Nasty Tavares touch pass leads to breakaway goal for Nylander in San Jose

Toronto Maple Leafs captain @John Tavares deftly set up a beautiful goal by @William Nylander early in the first period of Friday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.

Nylander’s goal came less than a minute into regulation time on the first shot of the game by either team. He entered the Sharks’ defensive zone all alone after receiving the puck off a touch pass from Tavares at the blue line.

Leafs defenceman @Morgan Rielly led the charge with the puck out of his own zone. @Erik Karlsson managed to swipe the puck away from Rielly at the red line but inadvertently sent it on a path towards Tavares, who gave it a nearly imperceptible tap with his stick to send it on course ahead of Nylander.

Nylander was able to skate into possession of the puck and deposited it past a sprawling @James Reimer for his eighth goal of the season. Tavares and Rielly picked up the helpers. Here’s the video of the play, as posted to Twitter by the official Toronto Maple Leafs account:

@Wayne Simmonds, @Auston Matthews, and Tavares also scored for Toronto in a 4–1 win over San Jose on Friday. @Joseph Woll made 34 saves for his third win in as many National Hockey League starts.

The Leafs will continue their California road swing on Sunday when they take on the Anaheim Ducks at 8:00 p.m. ET. You’ll be able to catch that game on TSN4 in the Leafs region.