Michael Eyssimont had a purpose and an help because the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Thursday to pressure Sport 6 of their first-round playoff sequence.
Anthony Cirelli, with a purpose and an help, Nick Paul and Alex Killorn, into an empty web, additionally scored for Tampa. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves.
The Leafs nonetheless lead the best-of-seven sequence 3-2.
Sport 6 goes Saturday in Tampa, Fla. Sport 7, if crucial, can be Monday again at Scotiabank Enviornment.
WATCH | Paul scores winner as Bolts pressure Sport 6 in opposition to Leafs:
Nick Paul scored the game-winning purpose, because the Tampa Bay Lightning stored their first spherical sequence alive with a 4-2 win. The Toronto Maple Leafs now lead the best-of-seven sequence 3-2.
Toronto, which has did not advance within the post-season since 2004 and was eradicated by the Lightning in seven video games in final spring’s first spherical, is now 0-10 since 2018 with an opportunity to get rid of a post-season opponent.
Tied 1-1 after a spirited first interval, the Lightning pushed forward at 4:24 of the second when Eyssimont beat Samsonov via the pads from a tricky angle for his first purpose of the sequence.
Tampa practically went up two off the frenzy when Brayden Level chimed a shot off the submit that stayed out earlier than Vasilevskiy flailed his arms on the different finish on a scramble to maintain a mid-air puck out of the Lightning web.
The interval resulted in controversy when Pat Maroon crushed Toronto defenceman 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.
The Leafs had a pair probabilities on the following energy play, however Vasilevskiy was there at each flip earlier than denying Mitch Marner on a breakaway.
Samsonov then stored his crew in it with an enormous glove cease on Steven Stamkos.
However Paul made it 3-1 at 11:54 of the third along with his first after the Leafs goaltender received bumped by teammate David Kampf.
The house aspect pulled inside one with 3:34 left in regulation when Matthews banged residence a free puck for his fourth, and third within the final two video games, with Samsonov on the bench for an additional attacker.
AUSTON BRINGS US WITHIN ONE!! <a href=”https://t.co/qEu8KZqcqb”>pic.twitter.com/qEu8KZqcqb</a>
—@MapleLeafs
The Leafs continued to press desperately in search of the tie and ship the groups to a 3rd straight additional time earlier than Killorn sealed it with 5 seconds left.
Coming off Stanley Cup triumphs in 2020 and 2021 earlier than falling in final yr’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.
Vasilevskiy, who had allowed 16 objectives in three video games coming into Thursday, appeared extra like his Vezina Trophy-winning self on a Toronto man benefit later within the interval with a few large stops.
Followers lined up for hours simply to get a spot for the viewing social gathering outdoors the rink at Maple Leaf Sq. and the prospect to be near their crew because it appeared to maneuver onto the second spherical for the primary time in practically twenty years.
Ticket resale web sites confirmed seats priced a whole lot — and even 1000’s of {dollars} — over face worth within the leadup to the opening faceoff.
Tampa beat Toronto 7-3 in Sport 1, however misplaced Erik Cernak when he took an unlawful verify to the pinnacle from Leafs winger Michael Bunting that has stored the minute-crunching defenceman sidelined.
Toronto picked up a 7-2 victory two nights later as Bunting served the primary of a three-game suspension earlier than securing consecutive additional time wins in Tampa, together with a 5-4 determination Monday after trailing 4-1 halfway via the third interval to construct a 3-1 sequence lead that now sits at a much-less-comfortable 3-2.
