The Toronto Maple Leafs are in town tonight for game 71 in the San Jose Sharks’ season. While the Sharks are very much playing out the end of the season, the Maple Leafs are looking to finish off the season tops in the Atlantic Division. Make no mistake, these games matter to the Leafs. This is the difference between playing one of those wild card teams like the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens or playing a Florida team. Sweeping the California road trip could go a long way to making sure the Maple Leafs have an easier road in the playoffs.
The Leafs are 5-5-0 in the team’s last ten games and won the team’s last match, a 7-2 drubbing of the Philadelphia Flyers. The beating was so bad that the Flyers fired Head Coach John Tortorella earlier today.
OFFICIAL: The Flyers have relieved John Tortorella of his duties as head coach. Philadelphia Flyers Associate Coach, Brad Shaw, has been named interim head coach and will assume duties immediately. https://t.co/qJuAybRMFT pic.twitter.com/saaH0u62lT
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 27, 2025
News of the firing shocked one of the newest members of the Leafs, Scott Laughton, who was traded from Philly to Toronto at the trade deadline.
“I think it was a shock honestly,” Laughton told the Hockey News. “Who knows what would have happened in the summer and everything like that. But yeah, it was a shock to me. I haven’t talked to anyone back in Philly yet. So I guess we’ll see what’s going on there.”
Another Maple Leaf, Chris Tanev, offered his endorsement of Tortorella after hearing the news.
“I love Torts. He made me a better player,” Tanev said. “He pushed my game to be better. He’s a really good person to me. Definitely can’t thank him enough. I enjoyed my time with him.”
As for today’s game, most of Toronto’s firepower is expected to be in the lineup. Toronto has four players averaging more than a point per game. Mitch Marner leads the team with 86 points in 70 games. William Nylander, who sometimes practices with William Eklund in the offseason, has 77 points in 71 games. John Tavares has 65 points in 64 games and Auston Matthews has 64 points in 56 games. Nylander leads the team with 40 goals.
These two teams last played on March 3 in San Jose when the Sharks won 3-2 in a shootout. Anthony Stolarz was in the net for that game which might be why the Maple Leafs are expected to go with Joseph Woll tonight.
On the Sharks side of the ice, look for rookie Cam Lund to make his debut with the Sharks after wrapping up a season at Northeastern. Lund is expected to play on the third line with Patrick Giles and Ty Dellandrea. According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, Alexandar Georgiev was off first, so he’s likely going to start in the net tonight.
ForwardsWilliam Eklund — Macklin Celebrini — Will SmithCollin Graf — Alexander Wennberg — Tyler ToffoliCam Lund — Patrick Giles — Ty Dellandrea
Carl Grundstrom — Zack Ostapchuk — Barclay Goodrow
DefenseMario Ferraro — Shakir MukhamadullinLucas Carlsson — Timothy Liljegren
Luca Cagnoni — Vincent Desharnais
GoaltendersAlexandar Georgiev
Georgi Romanov
According to NHL.com, this is what the Maple Leafs lines will look like tonight. No Max Pacioretty because of “tightness,” which is an official injury I guess. In the net, look for Joseph Woll.
Forwards Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch MarnerBobby McMann — John Tavares — William NylanderScott Laughton — Max Domi — Nicholas Robertson
Steven Lorentz — David Kampf — Calle Jarnkrok
DefenseMorgan Rielly — Brandon CarloJake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
GoaltendersJoseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
Sharks fans can watch the game on NBC Sports California Plus tonight because we’re making way for the not so Oakland A’s. You can listen on the Sharks Audio Network.
Toronto fans can watch the game on SNO.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET at SAP Center in San Jose.
