Following Wednesday’s 3-1 loss in Toronto, Matt Nieto talked about the chemistry he has developed playing on a line with Logan Couture and Alexander Barabanov.
- Editor's Note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
TORONTO — Tomas Hertl messed up, and the Sharks rushed to his defense.
Tied at one apiece in a hard-fought contest, Hertl, looking for Timo Meier, gave it away to David Kampf with less than three minutes left in regulation.
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The Sharks had just killed a Nick Cicek penalty and looked well on their way to at least overtime against the scorching-hot Toronto Maple Leafs.
“When I got it, I knew Timo was there. I thought he was alone,” Hertl recalled. “But [Kampf] was there and I made a terrible play. I cost the goal. It can’t happen, three minutes left in the game.”
The Leafs would score another via empty net to take a 3-1 decision. Toronto now has won five in a row, and they have points in 15 of their last 16 games.
Credit to the Sharks' alternate captain, he stood up after the game and shouldered the blame.
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“It’s all on me. I cost us two points because I made a stupid play,” the heart-on-his-sleeve Hertl blurted. “I feel really bad right now because we played a good game off the back-to-back. Guys killed a huge PK. And I f--kd it up.”
The Sharks, however, wouldn’t let Hertl put it all on himself.
