Spezza speaks, Toronto’s stars shine as Leafs down Bolts 4-3 to take 3-2 series lead
TORONTO — Jason Spezza stood up within the Maple Leafs locker room following one other disastrous begin.
The veteran ahead — doubtlessly within the midst of a ultimate Stanley Cup shot in his nineteenth NHL season — spoke concerning the margin for error getting smaller and smaller in opposition to the two-time defending champions.
Toronto desperately wanted to select it up.
The group’s huge weapons, with the assistance of gutsy efforts up and down the lineup, responded in type.
Auston Matthews scored the winner with 6:06 left in regulation because the Leafs recovered from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on Tuesday and take a 3-2 lead of their first-round playoff collection.
“Spezz actually spoke effectively,” stated Toronto captain John Tavares, who scored his group’s first objective early within the second interval and assisted on Morgan Rielly‘s effort within the third that tied issues 2-2.
“We clearly wanted to search out one other stage.”
William Nylander added a objective and two assists for the Leafs, who sit one victory from advancing within the post-season for the primary time since 2004. Jack Campbell stopped 32 photographs.
“He is an awesome chief,” Nylander stated of the 38-year-old Spezza, who noticed lower than six minutes of ice time.
“When he says one thing, everyone listens.”
Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh replied for the Lightning — a battle-tested group that may look to stave off elimination within the best-of-seven matchup Thursday at house. Nikita Kucherov added two assists, whereas Andrei Vasilevskiy made 22 saves.
“We’re not likely making them earn it,” Tampa head coach Jon Cooper stated. “We’re sort of giving it to them.”
The Leafs would definitely disagree after turning into the primary group within the 5 video games to return again after falling behind.
“The best way the collection has gone is that 2-0 has grow to be 4 or 5,” Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe stated. “We wanted to flip that script.”
Recreation 7 of the collection, if needed, could be at Scotiabank Area on Saturday.
“It is a huge win for us,” Matthews stated. “However there’s nonetheless some work to be carried out.”
The Leafs snapped a 3-3 tie on a 2-on-1 rush within the third when Mitch Marner purposely fired a shot off Vasilevskiy’s proper pad into the trail of Toronto’s 60-goal man to bury his third of the playoffs and ignite the raucous house crowd.
It is a setup the dynamic duo works on practically every single day in follow. And one which paid off within the largest second of the season up to now.
“Such a particular participant,” Matthews stated of Marner. “Any time he is acquired the puck I simply attempt to get open or attempt to anticipate it is coming to me.
“Simply an unbelievable IQ play by him. I had the entire web to shoot at.”
Matthews celebrated by dropping to at least one knee and punching the air with a windmill celebration.
“Large objective,” Nylander stated with a smile. “Deserves a giant celly.”
The Lightning pulled Vasilevskiy late and had a few probabilities, however iced the puck with 21.9 seconds left to drive the 2021 Conn Smythe Trophy winner again into his crease and successfully seal it.
Down 2-1 heading to the third, Toronto tied the rating with the groups enjoying 4-on-4 at 3:01 when Tavares, who had been criticized for his offensive output via 4 video games, held onto the puck within the offensive zone and located Rielly to bury his first of the collection.
“He is our man,” Matthews stated of Tavares. “I do not assume that stuff actually rattles him. He desires produce like all of us do … however simply the little issues he is been doing for us, particularly tonight, defensively, offensively, gaining momentum for our group, that is what he does.
“That is why he is our captain.”
The Leafs stored coming and took the lead 73 seconds later — the primary time both group has carried out so within the collection after falling behind — when Nylander ripped his third objective within the final two video games on Vasilevskiy to just about blow the roof off the rink.
However the Lightning acquired again even at 8:17 when McDonagh blasted a shot previous Campbell to tie issues at 3-3 earlier than Matthews received it.
“The gang … the vitality,” stated the two-time Maurice (Rocket) Richard winner. “There’s nothing like a playoff ambiance, particularly right here in Toronto.
“It was fairly particular.”
The Leafs had been coming off a no-show in Tampa that noticed them swarmed by the Lightning early in a 7-3 blowout Sunday.
Toronto acquired an early energy play to proceed the collection’ parade to the penalty field, however could not join regardless of some attractiveness for Marner.
Stamkos made it 1-0 on a shot Campbell will in all probability need again at 5:19 of the primary on Tampa’s second try on course.
The Lightning then acquired their first man benefit when T.J. Brodie went off for hooking and went up by two at 6:11 when Hedman fired via site visitors inside a surprised Scotiabank Area.
Toronto killed off a 5-on-3 energy play for 30 seconds later within the interval because of some huge stops from Campbell, who was stellar following some early jitters after permitting 5 objectives on 16 photographs and getting the hook in Recreation 4.
The Leafs went on one other man benefit, however the NHL’s high unit within the common season as soon as once more annoyed the house crowd by not directing a lot of something on objective, prompting chants of “Shoot The Puck! Shoot The Puck!”
Tampa would end the interval that included a mixed seven minor penalties with a 14-4 edge in photographs.
“We needed to cease taking penalties,” Keefe stated. “And our energy play needed to do a greater job.
“It actually muddied the waters when it comes to how we had been really enjoying and actually could not permit us to get life and get going.”
The Lightning had been whistled for his or her second infraction for too many males on the ice early within the center interval, and Toronto broke via when Nylander fired a shot that went in off the skate of Tavares for his first objective of the collection.
The Leafs continued to push because the interval wore on, with Vasilevskiy compelled to make various enormous saves with the house aspect buzzing.
Campbell had a a lot quieter time on the different finish, however made an enormous cease on a Nick Paul breakaway.
“Massive recreation like this, you want your finest individuals to step up and make a distinction,” Keefe stated of his offensive stars. “And so they definitely did that.
“Jack Campbell might be the important thing to this entire factor right here immediately, as a result of he stored them at two for a very long time, and gave us the time to return again.”
The Leafs now head to Tampa with an opportunity to rewrite a protracted record of playoff ache.
Additionally they know there is no stop on the opposite aspect.
“I do not assume that tonight goes to matter if we do not take the following step,” Keefe stated.
“The toughest step.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Might 10, 2022.
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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
