Sharks 2, Maple Leafs 1
SHARKS 2, MAPLE LEAFS 1: Patrick Marleau scored a pair of goals and San Jose held on to edge Toronto and halt its four-game losing streak.
Antti Niemi made 29 saves for the Sharks, who improved to 2-4-1 on their season-high nine-game road trip. San Jose concludes the marathon trek with games in Nashville and Minnesota before returning home to face Philadelphia on Tuesday.
After a scoreless first period, Marleau got San Jose on the board 32 seconds into the middle session with his 24th goal of the season. Marleau received a pass from captain Joe Thornton and rifled the puck over James Reimer's right shoulder from the left faceoff dot.
Marleau doubled the lead during a power play midway through the period, tipping All-Star Logan Couture's shot from the blue line past Reimer to complete his fourth multi-goal performance of 2011-12.
Toronto halved the deficit less than four minutes into the third as rookie defenseman Jake Gardiner's slap shot from above the left circle found its way past Niemi.
Reimer stopped 23 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost seven of eight overall and fell to 0-1-1 on their four-game homestand.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The regulation loss was only the second in six home games for the Maple Leafs (3-2-1). ... San Jose has won five of its last six meetings with Toronto. ... Maple Leafs All-Star Phil Kessel's assist on Gardiner's goal was his 65th point of the season, a new career high. ... The Sharks have won only three of their last 12 road games (3-7-2).