Michael Eyssimont had a aim and an help because the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Thursday evening to power Game 6 of their first-round playoff collection.
Anthony Cirelli additionally had a aim and an help, Nicholas Paul scored and Alex Killorn bought an empty web aim for Tampa. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves.
Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews scored for Toronto, which bought 34 stops from Ilya Samsonov. John Tavares had two assists.
The Leafs nonetheless lead the best-of-seven collection 3-2.
In third interval motion, Tampa’s Nicholas Paul celebrates his aim.
The Toronto Maple Leafs misplaced to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in sport 5 of the primary spherical of the playoffs in NHL hockey motion on the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
April 27 2023. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star through Getty Images)
Game 6 will likely be Saturday in Tampa. Game 7, if mandatory, could be Monday again at Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto, which has did not advance within the post-season since 2004 and was eradicated by the Lightning in seven video games within the first spherical final 12 months, is now 0-10 since 2018 with an opportunity to eradicate a post-season opponent.
Tied at 1 after a spirited first interval, the Lightning pushed forward at 4:23 of the second when Eyssimont beat Samsonov by the pads from a tricky angle for his first aim of the collection.
The interval resulted in controversy when Pat Maroon crushed Toronto defenseman Mark Giordano from behind into the boards. The preliminary play went uncalled, however the bruising Tampa winger was assessed a roughing penalty for the following scrum.
Giordano rejoined his teammates on the bench shortly after the restart after getting checked out by the coach.
Paul made it 3-1 at 11:53 of the third together with his first after the Leafs goaltender bought bumped by teammate David Kampf.
In third interval motion, Nicholas Paul of Tampa (20) celebrates his aim.
The Toronto Maple Leafs misplaced to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in sport 5 of the primary spherical of the playoffs in NHL hockey motion on the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
April 27 2023 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star through Getty Images)
KINGS FAN SPAT ON 10-YEAR-OLD CANCER PATIENT WEARING OILERS JERSEY, EDMONTON’S EVANDER KANE SAYS
The dwelling aspect pulled inside one with 3:34 left in regulation when Matthews banged dwelling a unfastened puck for his fourth, and third within the final two video games, with Samsonov on the bench for an additional attacker.
The Leafs continued to press desperately on the lookout for the tie and ship the groups to a 3rd straight time beyond regulation earlier than Killorn sealed it with 5 seconds left.
Toronto, which has misplaced six straight collection since 2017, opened the scoring at 4:46 of the primary when Rielly — the longest-serving Leaf — scored his third of the collection from the slot after Tavares beat three Lightning gamers to the puck to ignite the towel-waving crowd inside a frothing Scotiabank Arena.
Coming off Stanley Cup triumphs in 2020 and 2021 earlier than falling in final 12 months’s last to the Colorado Avalanche, and seeking to preserve their season alive, the Lightning responded simply 26 seconds later when Cirelli scored his third off a scramble.
EYSSIMONT RETURNS
The Lightning ahead suited up for the primary time since getting knocked out of Game 1 on a tough hit by Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe. Eyssimont’s inclusion meant Tanner Jeannot watched from the press field.
Tampa Bay Lightning Center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his aim together with his teammates through the first interval of the Round 1 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 5 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 27, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images)
BUNTING SITS
The gritty Toronto native was eligible to return to the lineup after serving his three-game ban, however Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe elected to go along with the identical lineup for the fourth straight sport. Michael Bunting registered 23 objectives and 49 factors within the common season.