Hey, Morgan Rielly, do you wonder what in the world you and the Maple Leafs must do to win an elimination game?
The Justin Holl-Mark Giordano pairing was on for three even-strength Lightning goals, with Mikey Eyssimont skirting past Holl and fooling Ilya Samsonov for a soul damaging go-ahead marker.
Had Mitch Marner buried his third-period breakaway, the game would’ve been tied before Nick Paul made it 3-1. But that save underlined Andrei Vasilevskiy showing critics that his .856 save percentage heading into Game 5 was an aberration, standing his ground for a blocker save.
Three-time Stanley Cup finalist Tampa goes home with renewed life while replanting the seed of doubt in Leafs Nation.
“We didn’t expect them to roll over and now it’s important for our group to go on the road with a mission.”
After 19 years of hearing about their opening-round futility, 11 in all going back to 2013, two more days of negativity won’t matter. But now they’ll have to address that at Amalie, where they already tested the hockey gods with overtime comebacks in Games 3 and 4.
It’s also rare for a team in any sport to grab three road games en route to winning a playoff series. For the Leafs, that hasn’t happened since 1951 in the semifinals against Boston.
CASTING A PAUL
Thursday was eerily similar to Game 7 last year, after Toronto had let a one-goal lead slip away in Game 6, came home and fell 2-1. Rielly also scored in that game, the Leafs failed to capitalize and third-liner Paul had a pair, including the winner.
“He lives 20 minutes down the road (in Mississauga) so he must feel at home here,” said coach Jon Cooper. “It was documented Paulie hadn’t scored in a while, him and Alex Killorn. So in the last couple of games (for both to get on the board), it’s depth scoring and both teams have that in this series.”
Eyssimont, with a goal and assist, replaced tough lug Tanner Jeannot after the former missed three games following Jake McCabe’s staggering hit.
“You don’t go through a playoff series using just 20 guys,” Cooper said.
OLD GUARD HANGS IN
Cooper’s faith in Vasilevskiy and indeed all his Cup veterans was rewarded.
“I said at the beginning of the series, don’t ever bet against the guys, not that group. We’ve won one game (Thursday) and have so far to go. But to come into this phenomenal environment (almost 20,000 towel waving fans and the surrounding area a sea of blue) and play the way we did … we’re going back and that’s exciting for us.
“They dug their heels in tonight and who really did it for us was the goalie. His name has come up for various reasons the last couple of days.”
SUNSHINE SAMMY
Samsonov faced the cameras for the first time in a few days after the Leafs hid him, but he gave the same candid commentary as he has all this season and wasn’t sullen about where the team finds itself after missing another chance to clinch.
“It’s OK so far, but we’ll see the next game, try and forget about today. Every game is tight. Emotions are up and down, that’s why everyone loves playoffs, yes?”
He ended by thanking the media mob and gave a cheery: “See you in Tampa.”
GAME ON
Marner, Rielly and Matthews all said they didn’t get a good look at Pat Maroon’s second-period buzzer-beater belt into the glass on Giordano. He was down and out until coming back in the first few minutes in the third. But the Leafs did little with the roughing minor power play that followed … Also making a comeback from sick bay was Matthew Knies after a Darren Raddysh drive caught him on an exposed part of the knee. He’d assisted on Rielly’s goal … Noel Acciari led the Leafs with nine hits, but McCabe sent a couple of Bolts to the ice with shoulder checks … Ryan O’Reilly was the only Leaf without a hit … Rielly blocked six shots … After his well-placed overtime tip goal in Game 4, Kerfoot fired the puck over the glass with nobody near him in the second period, but Toronto survived the Tampa power play … Matthews had the third Leafs 6-on-5 goal through five games, compared to three in all other series. He also broke a tie with Lanny McDonald and Dave Andreychuk for 12th place in franchise playoff goals with 21.
MARLIES WIN
Joseph Blandisi’s overtime goal gave the Toronto Marlies a 6-5 win over Utica in Game 1 of their best-of-five AHL second-round playoff series Thursday at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Logan Shaw scored two, Pontus Holmberg, Topi Niemela and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev one each. With Erik Kallgren helping the Leafs’ practice squad, Keith Petruzzelli made 40 saves for the win.
QUOTABLE
“Another great third period. We just have to make sure we start like that. We don’t quit in here.” — Marner on what’s to come in Game 6.
“It’s the year of the road team.” — Cooper on the Leafs and Bolts following the league trend of success away from home.
“We let him see pucks. It’s a step in the right direction.” — Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman on Vasilevskiy’s play.
