The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to build on its lead atop the Atlantic Division when they open a three-game road trip through California against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
Toronto (43-25-3, 89 points) travels to the Bay Area following a convincing 7-2 home-ice win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
William Nylander and John Tavares each recorded two goals and two assists, while Bobby McMann had a goal and an assist. Both David Kampf and Max Domi also scored for the Maple Leafs, who have won four of their last five.
Nylander has now reached the 40-goal mark for a third straight year, matching his career best for a single season. He is the fourth player in Maple Leafs history to record three consecutive 40-goal seasons. Nylander is second to only Leon Draisaitl (49) of the Edmonton Oilers in the goal-scoring race.
“He’s a lot of fun to play with,” Tavares said of Nylander. “Such a unique talent and the way he’s elevated his game the last number of years, becoming a perennial All-Star, one of the top wingers in the game and such a game-breaker. One of the ultimate game-breakers in our league, and certainly, we are thrilled to have him.
“He’s having a great year, and 40 is difficult to get, so he’s obviously done a lot of great things. He’s a special player.”
Anthony Stolarz, who made 17 saves in Tuesday’s win, is 15-8-3 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average in 28 games this season.
Fellow netminder Joseph Woll is 24-13-0 in 37 games, with a .907 save percentage and a 2.74 GAA.
Thursday is the second of two meetings between the Leafs and Sharks this season. San Jose topped Toronto 3-2 in a shootout north of the border on March 3.
The Sharks (19-42-9, 47 points) enter the contest following a four-day break. San Jose, in the midst of an eight-game home stand, last played on Saturday when it topped the Boston Bruins 3-1.
Lucas Carlsson scored what turned out to be the game-winner, William Eklund added a goal and a helper and Barclay Goodrow scored for the Sharks, who are 2-2 in their past four games. Macklin Celebrini added two assists in the win.
San Jose, officially eliminated from playoff contention, is 11-22-2 on home ice this season.
Celebrini and Eklund pace the Sharks with 52 points this season, while Tyler Toffoli has a team-leading 25 goals in 67 games.
Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev is 6-16-1 this season with an .878 save percentage and a 3.71 GAA.
Center Cam Lund will make his NHL debut against the Leafs on Thursday. The 2022 second-round pick spent this season at Northeastern University, tallying 18 goals and 22 assists in 37 games.
Lund signed an entry-level contract with the Sharks on March 21.
“It’s a dream come true. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this, obviously – to play in the NHL,” Lund said. “Being able to come out here is such an honor. I’m very excited.”
The 20-year-old skated on the Sharks’ third line with Ty Dellandrea and Patrick Giles on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
