Toronto Maple Leafs vs San Jose Sharks March 3rd 2025

Planning on watching today’s Sharks and Maple Leafs game? Catch the action at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, as the Maple Leafs hosts this showdown at 7:30 ET on NBCS. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 6 goals, with the Maple Leafs being the favored by -1.5 goals against the Sharks.

San Jose vs. Toronto Key Information

Teams: Sharks at Maple Leafs
Where: Scotiabank Arena Toronto
Date: Monday, March 3rd
Betting Odds TOR -380 | SJ +294 O/U 6

The Sharks Can Win If…

San Jose fell to 15-37-9 with a 3-2 loss to the Canucks. The Sharks held a 2-1 lead in the third period, but Vancouver scored twice to hand them another defeat.

The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 5 goals fell short. As underdogs on the puck line, the Sharks failed to cover. San Jose’s defense allowed the game-winning goal with just 26 seconds left.

Mikael Granlund netted his 6th goal of the season, while Nico Sturm opened the scoring for the Sharks with his 2nd goal in their 3-2 loss to the Canucks. Granlund took 3 shots on goal, and Sturm found the net on his only shot of the game.

San Jose took 23 shots on goal but gave the puck away 16 times. The Sharks were shut out in the first period before Sturm scored at 17:23 in the second. Granlund added his goal at 1:17 in the third period.

San Jose’s defense will be looking to bounce back after giving up a late goal in their previous game, a 3-2 loss to the Canucks. The Sharks had tied the game at 2-2 with 1:17 remaining in the 3rd period, but they gave up the game-winner with just 26 seconds left. Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves with a save percentage of 89.3%, and the defense added 6 takeaways and 21 hits.

The Sharks have gone 0-3 over their last three regular season games. This also includes going 2-1 ATS, and posting an over-under record of 2-1.
The Sharks have gone 1-9 over their last ten regular season games. Their record vs the puck line sits at 6-4 in these matchups, while posting a 6-4 over-under mark.

The Maple Leafs Can Win If…

Toronto’s latest outing resulted in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild, bringing their record to 38-20-2. The Maple Leafs were underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6 goals, but the teams combined for just 3.

After falling behind early, Toronto tied the game with only 52 seconds left in the first period. However, the Wild scored the game-winner at 2:14 in overtime.

Toronto’s offense managed just one goal in their 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild, with William Nylander scoring his 9th of the season on a power play at 19:08 in the first period. The Maple Leafs took 28 shots on goal but were unable to find the net after the opening period.

Toronto recorded 10 offensive giveaways and had two players pick up assists on Nylander’s goal: Auston Matthews, with his 6th assist of the season, and Mitchell Marner, who now has 12 assists.

Toronto’s defense gave up the first goal at 9:41 in the 1st period and the game-winner at 2:14 in overtime. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage. The Maple Leafs’ defense also recorded 2 takeaways and 30 hits.

Spanning across their last three games, Toronto have gone 3-0. This includes going 0-3 vs. the puck line and posting an over-under mark of 2-1.
Toronto has put together a record of 8-2 in their last ten games (regular season). The team’s record vs the puck line was just 5-5, in addition to an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Lean

If you’re considering a direct moneyline bet, the Maple Leafs is the choice to make. However, with a payout of -380, you might want to use this bet as a building block for a parlay.

When it comes to my suggested pick for the puck line, I’d advise taking the Sharks to cover. Even in the event of a Maple Leafs victory, this matchup is likely to remain closely contested, and the Sharks should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Sharks Face Tough Task in Toronto as Losing Streak Continues

Two teams on opposite trajectories meet Monday night when the struggling San Jose Sharks visit the red-hot Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

San Jose is desperate for a win after eight straight losses (0-5-3), while Toronto is coming off an overtime victory against Pittsburgh that extended its winning streak to five games.

The Sharks’ latest defeat, a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, saw them collapse in the third period, surrendering four goals. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs return home for just one game before heading back on the road, looking to continue their dominance.

San Jose Searching for a Way to Close Out Games

The Sharks have been competitive during their seven-game road trip, but they have struggled to close out games and maintain discipline in key moments.

“We’re in games right now,” defenseman Mario Ferraro said. “We’re right there. But that small margin for error, it’s this big, right? We’re not finding a way to stay disciplined enough to play a full 60 minutes, or whatever it is, to pull out those wins. I think that’s just a little bit of the immaturity in our game as a whole, as a team.”

Their current road trip record sits at 0-2-2, with overtime losses in Winnipeg and Montreal adding to their frustration.

Defenseman Jake Walman admitted the mental toll of the losing streak is growing.

“It’s pretty tough,” Walman said. “It eats you a little bit from the inside. You kind of come into buildings where teams — I mean, it’s the reality of it — where other teams feel that they can play confidently against us, and at some point we’ve got to strike that down and turn a page.”

San Jose has relied on contributions from multiple players despite its struggles.

Will Smith, Tyler Toffoli, and Timothy Liljegren scored in the loss to Ottawa.
The team remains winless in February and is looking for any spark to turn its fortunes around.

Maple Leafs Riding High Despite Imperfections

Toronto has won eight of its last nine games, but the team has been far from perfect in many of those wins.

The Leafs escaped with a 3-2 win over the Rangers on Friday, despite being outshot 35-16.
They blew multiple leads in Sunday’s 6-5 overtime win against Pittsburgh before William Nylander sealed the game with an impressive individual effort.

Toronto coach Craig Berube acknowledged the team needs to tighten up its play.

“It’s not how we wanted to draw it up,” Berube said after Sunday’s game. “We made a couple of mistakes and put ourselves in a little bit of a hole. But guys stayed with it, climbed out of it, and found a way to get the win.”

Nylander, who scored the overtime winner, highlighted the importance of grinding out victories.

“It’s good to win those games,” Nylander said. “That’s the positive thing that you can take away from it. Even though we’re not playing great, we’re still able to win the game.”

Auston Matthews Moves Up in Maple Leafs History

Toronto’s star Auston Matthews continued to make history, scoring his 390th career goal on Sunday to move past Darryl Sittler into second place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.

“It’s nice to be in the same sentence as a guy like Darryl Sittler, obviously a great Leaf,” Matthews said.

Matthews now sets his sights on Mats Sundin’s franchise record of 420 goals, which could be within reach as early as next season.

Key Matchups to Watch

Auston Matthews vs. Sharks’ Defense
Matthews has been on a tear this season and will look to take advantage of San Jose’s struggling defense. If the Sharks cannot contain him, it could be another long night.

San Jose’s Goaltending vs. Toronto’s Firepower
The Maple Leafs have scored at least three goals in each of their last eight wins, while the Sharks have struggled defensively, surrendering five goals in two straight games.

William Nylander vs. San Jose’s Blue Line
Nylander has been Toronto’s best clutch performer, and his ability to create plays in transition will be a major test for San Jose’s defense.

Ready to place a bet? Make sure to check out the NHL Pick Page for expert predictions before making your move!

What’s at Stake?

For San Jose, snapping their losing streak would be a massive confidence boost, especially against a top-tier opponent. The Sharks are looking for any momentum as they continue their seven-game road trip.

For Toronto, maintaining their winning streak is crucial as they fight for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. With a tough road schedule ahead, taking care of business against a struggling team like San Jose is a must.

The Maple Leafs are heavily favored, but with the Sharks desperate for a win, an upset is not out of the question. Will San Jose finally turn things around, or will Toronto continue rolling at home? The answer comes Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Predictions March 3rd 2025