The Toronto Maple Leafs squandered what was a pretty solid 60-minute effort against the San Jose Sharks with a horrible showing in overtime to lose 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks. While the team started things off well and generally remained that way in regulation, they allowed the tying goal near the end of the game from John Klingberg and followed it up with a horrendous showing in overtime.

William Nylander, who was without points in his last four games, was bumped down to the third line and had a hot-and-cold night. The bump seemed to help him in regulation, picking up an assist on each goal, but he left Klingberg with far too much time to shoot on the tying goal and also gave the puck away in the offensive zone in overtime.

Despite this, head coach Craig Berube said that the two-assist effort was the best he’s seen from Nylander in a while and appeared content with his star forward’s performance.

“It was the best game I’ve seen him play in a while,” Berube said of Nylander. “He was engaged, When I see him skating and handling the puck and keeping the puck and doing the things he did tonight with the puck, I know he was ready to go.”

To add another element of insult to injury here, it appears the team could be down another defenceman. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who has been stellar on the back end for the Maple Leafs all year, got tangled up with Sharks forward Adam Gaudette shortly after the start of the third period and landed awkwardly along the boards. He appeared to be favouring his right ankle and needed help getting off the ice. Berube remained mum on Ekman-Larsson’s status following the game and said the team would have a better update the next day. He also offered a pair of updates on fellow banged-up defencemen Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo.

Berube also noted the fact that in the third period the Leafs didn’t take the driver’s seat, which eventually led to the tying goal from a hungry Sharks team.

“Third period, to me, we didn’t come out and dictate how to play the game. Turned pucks over, passive, you know, we didn’t finish them off.”

The Maple Leafs will look to get back in the win column on Saturday when they host the Edmonton Oilers.

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