TORONTO — Sheldon Keefe can sense the knives are already out for one of the Maple Leafs' newest additions.
Toronto's head coach did his best to both deflect and spread the blame following a disappointing, uninspired effort top to bottom Friday.
Jonathan Dahlen scored the winner and Adin Hill made 30 saves as the San Jose Sharks stayed perfect on the young season by defeating the listless Leafs 5-3.
Nick Ritchie started on Toronto's top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for the second consecutive game, but was benched midway through the second period after some suspect effort in trying to block an Erik Karlsson point shot that gave the visitors a 3-2 lead — one they would never surrender.