Thursday Night NHL: San Jose vs. Toronto

When the San Jose Sharks meet up against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night they will look to remain in first place.

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This is the only meeting of the season between the Sharks and Maple Leafs. A four-goal third period led Toronto to a 4-2 victory in San Jose in the most recent matchup on Jan. 11, 2011. Carl Gunnarsson scored the game-winning goal. Patrick Marleau had a pair in defeat.

Long road trips haven't been particularly kind to Western Conference teams this month. Chicago lost the first seven of a nine-game swing before rebounding, and now San Jose has dropped four straight and five of a six on its own nine-game journey. The Sharks' hardships combined with the Coyotes' recent surge has allowed Phoenix to draw even in points, though San Jose continues to lead the Pacific Division by virtue of having played two fewer games.

All of a sudden Columbus isn't a gimme on an opposing team's schedule, and San Jose found that out in resounding fashion Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets scored four times in the first period, chasing Antti Niemi after the third goal, and never let up en route to handing the Sharks a 6-3 loss. Joe Thornton and Logan Couture scored 26 seconds apart in the middle period and Couture later added a second goal on the power play, but the damage had long since been inflicted.

It's a three-way battle currently taking place for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot between Toronto and the second- and third-place teams in the Southeast Division -- which heading into Wednesday night's action were Winnipeg and Washington. The ultimate result for the Maple Leafs on Tuesday -- a 4-3 overtime loss to the visiting Devils -- was disappointing, but the team got a key point in the standings when Phil Kessel scored with 44 seconds left in regulation and Jonas Gustavsson on the bench for a sixth attacker.

The Leafs have to win if they want a shot at the NHL post season, one loss and they can be on the outside looking in when the playoffs start.