NHL Playoffs: Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated in Game 7

TORONTO –

Nick Paul scored twice, together with an unimaginable particular person effort on the winner late within the second interval, because the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in Sport 7 on Saturday to win their first-round playoff collection 4-3.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 29 saves for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

Morgan Rielly replied for Toronto, which hasn’t moved onto the second spherical since 2004 and is now 0-9 in video games the place it may get rid of an opponent over the past 5 post-seasons after additionally dropping Sport 6 by a 4-3 additional time scoreline in Tampa two nights earlier.

Jack Campbell stopped 23 photographs.

Regardless of their greatest efforts, the Leafs had been as soon as once more unable to push by way of and eventually flip an lengthy, ugly narrative of playoff failures for a franchise that has now misplaced its final seven collection, together with six straight courting again to 2017.

Toronto is now 7-3 all-time at dwelling in Sport 7s, together with a loss at Scotiabank Area final season after blowing a 3-1 collection lead in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens.

Down 1-0 after 20 minutes Saturday, the Leafs appeared to tie the sport at 11:28 of the second when John Tavares roofed a shot on Vasilevskiy, however the aim was waved off after Toronto defenceman Justin Holl was whistled for interference.

Campbell needed to make a few desperation stops on the following penalty kill to set the stage for Rielly’s equalizer off a setup from Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews to attain his third of the playoffs at 6:35 to ship the group of 19,316 right into a chaotic frenzy.

The aim was the primary surrendered by Vasilevskiy and the Lightning of their final six series-deciding video games.

William Nylander then missed excessive on a breakaway and the Tampa goaltender robbed Matthews with the Leafs buzzing.

However Paul scored his second of the night time – and second ever within the playoffs – with 3:28 remaining within the interval on a terrific play the place he kicked the puck from his skate to his stick.

Tampa almost made it 3-1 late within the interval when Kucherov hit Campbell’s submit from the slot.

Vasilevskiy was below siege all through a Leafs’ energy play simply over six minutes into the third, however saved the house aspect at bay regardless of some livid stress.

Toronto continued to press inside an anxious, tension-filled rink because the clock ticked down.

The Leafs, nevertheless, simply could not discover a method by way of with Campbell on the bench for an additional assault to finish one other chapter of playoff disappointment.

Each groups had terrific alternatives for early breakthroughs, however Vasilevskiy and Campbell had been there at each flip.

Tavares almost blew opened the scoring on an incredible likelihood in shut the place Vasilevskiy shot out his left pad earlier than the 2019 Vezina Trophy winner denied Marner.

Campbell then held the fort on a Lightning energy play on a few nice appears for the guests.

Brayden Level, who scored the winner in Tampa’s Sport 6 victory to increase the collection, was injured late within the first when his proper leg received caught beneath him as he fell to the ice. The winger – in agony as he headed down the tunnel to the locker room – tried to return for the second interval, however shut it down after a quick shift.

The Lightning went up 1-0 moments after Level went down within the first when Paul, who had a lot of probabilities in Sport 5 together with his staff forward earlier than Toronto roared again, scored his first.

Campbell made the preliminary cease on Ross Colton’s one-timer off the frenzy that nicked Rielly’s stick, however the rebound fell to Paul at 1:36 as Toronto surrendered the primary aim for a fourth straight sport.

The Lightning had been taking part in in simply their second Sport 7 for the reason that begin of the 2020 playoffs after defeating the New York Islanders 1-0 on dwelling within the semifinals final June.

Toronto’s final Sport 7 at dwelling with followers – the membership’s 2021 loss in opposition to Montreal was performed in entrance of 550 health-care employees due to COVID-19 restrictions – since 2004 when Joe Nieuwendyk scored twice to oust the Ottawa Senators.

The Leafs did not make the playoffs once more till 2013 after they collapsed in Sport 7 in opposition to the Boston Bruins. The membership’s new technology made the playoffs for the primary time in 2017, however has suffered a string of heartbreak that continued Saturday night time.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Could 14, 2022.