Sharks 4, Maple Leafs 2: Defenseman Brad Stuart scored the go-ahead goal with four minutes remaining in the second period and Antti Niemi turned aside 28 shots as visiting San Jose skated to its sixth straight victory.

Captain Joe Thornton netted a 5-on-3 power-play goal and former Maple Leaf Mike Brown also tallied for the Sharks, who have won nine of their last 10 games. Logan Couture added an empty-net goal and defenseman Dan Boyle notched two assists in the triumph.

Phil Kessel scored his 200th career goal and Mason Raymond tallied for the second straight contest for Toronto. James Reimer finished with 37 saves for the Maple Leafs, who have yielded 22 goals during their five-game winless streak (0-3-2).

After Toronto failed to clear the puck, San Jose took advantage of its exhausted opponent to seize a 3-2 lead. Stuart skated in from the point and wristed a sharp-angle shot from along the end line near the left-wing boards that caromed between the pads of Reimer.

The Sharks drew first blood exactly 10 minutes into the game as its fourth line applied consistent pressure before finally breaking through. Brown deflected defenseman Jason Demers' wrist shot from along the right-wing boards past Reimer for his second goal.

Thornton doubled the advantage just over 4 1/2 minutes later by accepting Joe Pavelski's cross-slot pass and lifting a shot from the right doorstep past Reimer for his fifth goal - and third in four games.

Raymond trimmed the deficit at 2:44 of the second period by converting a 2-on-1 rush and Toronto forged a 2-2 tie just over seven minutes later. Tyler Bozak wristed a brilliant cross-slot feed to Kessel, who buried his team-leading 15th goal - and fifth on the power play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Toronto C Nazem Kadri left the team Tuesday morning due to a death in the family. ... San Jose improved to 8-1-2 against Eastern Conference opponents. ... The Sharks went 1-for-4 on the power play against Toronto, which is just 11-for-19 on the penalty kill during its skid.