Heed helps Sharks top Maple Leafs
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Tim Heed's power-play goal broke a tie early in the third period, and the San Jose Sharks spoiled Patrick Marleau's return with a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.
Heed scored his second goal of the season with a slap shot from above the right circle. It was San Jose's only conversion on four power plays, and it was a result of Timo Meier drawing a retaliatory cross-check from former Sharks player Dominic Moore.
Forward Joel Ward scored his first goal of the season into an empty net at 17:47 of the third period before Toronto's Nazem Kadri redirected his seventh goal of the season in at 18:50 to draw the visitors back within one goal.
San Jose scored the only goal of the second period to leave the game tied 1-1 after 40 minutes.
After a Toronto turnover in the defensive zone, Heed pumped a drive toward the net that Joe Pavelski tipped past Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Anderson at 7:58 the level the score.
Pavelski's third goal of the season capped a sequence that included a second assist from Joe Thornton that represented his 1,399th career point. That puts Thornton alone in 20th place on the NHL's career scoring list. Dale Hawerchuk is next at 19th with 1,409 points.
The Sharks outshot the Leafs 12-8 in the first period, but the visitors scored the only goal.
Auston Matthews picked up a loose puck at the side of the crease, skated around Sharks defenseman Justin Braun, tied up with Leafs forward Zach Hyman and finished by tucking his ninth goal of the season between the goalie Martin Jones' pads at 12:14.
Jones finished with 16 saves, while Andersen stopped 36 shots in defeat.
NOTES: The fans showered Toronto LW Patrick Marleau with a long and loud ovation after a video tribute. Marleau spent 19 seasons in San Jose before signing with the Maple Leafs as a free agent in the offseason. ... Leafs LW James van Riemsdyk (lower body) and LW Matt Martin (upper body) returned after missing one game each. ... LW Josh Leivo, RW Kasperi Kapanen and D Connor Carrick did not dress for Toronto. ... Sharks D Paul Martin (lower body) missed his ninth straight game, but he is expected to rejoin practice this week. ... LW Barclay Goodrow, RW Jannik Hansen and D Dylan DeMelo were healthy scratches for the Sharks. ... San Jose's five-game homestand continues Wednesday vs. Nashville. ... Toronto next plays Wednesday at Anaheim.