TORONTO – Ryan Warsofsky might sense a deflated locker room.
The San Jose Sharks rookie head coach had a easy message for his younger, scuffling group by two intervals.
The last-place guests — using an eight-game slide coming into Monday and with out a victory since Jan. 27 — have been down 2-0 to the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs, a contender with 5 straight wins and designs on an extended playoff run this spring.
There have been loads of family members within the stands to cheer on a Sharks roster peppered with gamers from the world. Warsofsky did his greatest to shake the group again to life.
“We have been down on ourselves,” mentioned the NHL’s youngest bench boss at age 37. “I simply reminded them there’s eight guys in there which have numerous household and associates right here to observe you — they got here to observe 60 minutes, not 40.
“My final message was it’s gonna be a hell of a narrative.”
In a season with out many pleased tales for a franchise in full rebuild mode, the Sharks penned one they’ll bear in mind for a while after battling again from two targets down within the third interval earlier than Fabian Zetterlund buried the shootout winner to safe an unlikely 3-2 victory.
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“That one felt good,” Warsofsky mentioned. “We wanted that one. We’ve been taking part in some fairly good hockey and haven’t received rewarded for it.”
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The Sharks entered 2-14-3 over their earlier 19 video games and improved to 16-37-9 with the membership’s fifth victory of 2025.
“We’re not far-off,” mentioned ahead Alexander Wennberg, who had two assists. “We actually have one thing to construct on right here.”
San Jose defenceman Jack Thompson, a product of close by Courtice, Ont., scored early within the third to chop the deficit in half for a gaggle that includes a pair of gifted, peach-fuzzed forwards in Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.
“We really feel like we’re in these video games,” mentioned the 22-year-old Thompson. “We simply preserve battling. We now have a terrific group of fellows in right here that get pleasure from taking part in with one another. It confirmed tonight.”
San Jose misplaced 2-1 in extra time to the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 24 earlier than struggling a 4-3 OT loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday and a 5-3 setback to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday as a part of a seven-game highway journey that wraps up Tuesday in Buffalo in opposition to the Sabres.
“We now have numerous expertise in right here,” mentioned veteran winger and Toronto native Tyler Toffoli, who tied the sport in regulation and scored within the third spherical of the shootout to maintain his group alive. “There’s by no means any give. Even when we’re not having an excellent evening, we’re going to return again and preserve combating.”
Warsofsky is aware of one win doesn’t make a season — or a rebuild. However his Sharks confirmed one thing at Scotiabank Area.
“We’re not in a playoff race, however we’re by no means going to surrender,” he mentioned. “We’re going to maintain taking part in. We’re going to maintain competing. Our guys are actually beginning to purchase into how we have to play. It’s a easy model of hockey. That’s normally what wins on this league.
“They’re beginning to determine that out.”
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
The Leafs (38-20-3) failed to achieve the utmost factors in opposition to the league’s worst group as they proceed to battle for first within the Atlantic Division regardless of having a full two-minute energy play in extra time.
“Any loss is disappointing,” mentioned head coach Craig Berube. “We’re in a great spot to shut it out and we didn’t do the job.”
HAPPY TRAILS
Toronto accomplished an ideal four-game highway journey coming into Monday and now heads again out for 3 extra away dates starting Wednesday in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights.
When taking the 4 Nations Face-Off break into consideration, the Leafs can have performed two house contests in simply over six weeks after they return March 13 in opposition to the Florida Panthers.
“You may make all the reasons you need,” Berube mentioned. “That is the schedule and also you simply gotta be mentally powerful.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 3, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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