Suspect defense costs Sharks in loss to Toronto Maple Leafs

SAN JOSE – Sharks coach Bob Boughner made the decision to pull goalie James Reimer midway through the second period of Friday’s game with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It was more of a mercy move by Boughner than a reflection of Reimer’s play to that point.

The Sharks didn’t defend or manage the puck the way they needed to against the explosive Leafs, who scored four times on their first 17 shots to pick up a 4-1 win before an announced crowd of 14,068 at SAP Center.

“Turnovers all over the ice, and that’s when we get ourselves into trouble. We turn the puck over way too often,” Sharks center Logan Couture said. “We said going into tonight we want to play our style, not theirs. And their style is feeding off transitions and turnovers. We fed into their style and recipe for a 4-1 loss.”

The Sharks allowed even-strength goals to William Nylander, Wayne Simmonds, and Auston Matthews before John Tavares scored a power-play goal at the 10:44 mark of the second period.

That led Boughner to make the switch from Reimer to Adin Hill, although Toronto’s goals to that point had more to do with some suspect defense by the Sharks in their own zone than the play by the goalie.

“It wasn’t definitely wasn’t his fault. I told him that much when he came back to the bench,” Boughner said of Reimer. “The plan was to play him Sunday in Chicago so I said to just get some rest. It was good for Hill to get in there to spark the team, maybe have a little bit of momentum change there.”

Nick Bonino had the lone goal for the Sharks, whose record dropped to 10-9-1.

The Sharks closed their homestand with a 2-2-0 record and now begin a five-game road trip that starts Sunday in Chicago, followed by games with the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Sharks announced Friday afternoon that general manager Doug Wilson would be taking a temporary medical leave, and that assistant GM Joe Will would take over day-to-day duties.

Wilson, 64, has dealt with a persistent cough since at least early September. He had the cough when he spoke with reporters at the start of the Sharks’ training camp later that month, and was still bothered by it when he last spoke with the media on Nov. 12 in advance of his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category.

Wilson’s condition is not believed to be COVID-19 related. Doctors are now prescribing rest for Wilson, whose sleep has been affected. He is now at his home in Scottsdale/.

The Sharks had won two of three games on the homestand. After losing to the Washington Capitals last Saturday, they rebounded with wins over the Carolina Hurricanes and  Ottawa Senators on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Toronto had won five straight road games before Friday, including a 6-2 pasting of the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

San Jose allowed a goal just 32 seconds into the first period. Nylander was left alone as he entered the Sharks’ zone, took a pass from Tavares, and beat Reimer with a forehand to backhand move for his eighth goal of the season.

“That wasn’t in the game plan to give them a breakaway on the first shift, I can guarantee you that,” Boughner said.

Bonino responded at the 4:44 mark of the first period with his second goal in as many games, as he beat Leafs goalie Joseph Woll five-hole with a wrist shot from the circle.

But Toronto responded just 32 seconds later. As the Sharks were unable to control the puck as it entered their zone, David Kampf fired a shot at the net that was redirected by Simmonds past Reimer for a 2-1 Sharks lead. Matthews scored his ninth of the season at the 4:57 mark of the second.

Woll had 18 saves through two periods, including two when the Sharks were on the power play. San Jose went 0-for-3 on the man advantage.