(Photo via TBLightning/twitter)
By Michael Wax
2022 Playoffs: The Tampa Bay Lightning tied their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs at two (2-2) after a 7-3 win in game two.
Game Summary
1st Period
If there was one positive to take from the Lightning's game three loss, it was their 15-0 record following losses over the last three postseason. The Bolts certainly turned their game around early, as Steven Stamkos fired a one-timer past Jack Campbell for the game opening goal, just a minute into the game.
Credit to the beautiful pass from Kucherov as well.
The Lightning continued to push the pace of the game as the first period continued, and were rewarded with a fourth-line goal. Constant pressure from Perry and Maroon led to a bad pass and funky bounce, which landed right onto the stick of Pierre-Édouard Bellemare. Bellemare buried it to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead.
Just two minutes later, Pat Maroon showed that he's still got a lot left in the tank, and made it 3-0.
2nd Period
Even with a 3-0 lead, the opportunity to add onto their lead was too good to pass up. Cal Foote took a hit in the neutral zone to make a pass onto the stick of Hagel, and Hagel gave it right on over to a streaking Ross Colton. Colton fired a wrist shot that beat Campbell, a reward for Colton's excellent playoffs.
After Toronto took consecutive penalties, the Lightning looked to cash in with a five-foward unit. Corey Perry was the recipient of another beautiful Kucherov pass, firing the puck into the open cage for the 5-0 lead and chasing Jack Campbell from the game.
3rd Period
The Leafs got an early power play thanks to an ill-advised penalty from Mikhail Sergachev, and broke the shutout on a William Nylander tip in front. Nylander would make it 5-2 off the rush about 10 minutes later to cut the game to 5-2.
The Leafs were very aggressive in pulling their goalie for the extra attacker, and got a goal from Jake Muzzin, but Ondrej Palat and Ross Colton both found the net for goals on either side of the Muzzin goal.
Game five will be on Tuesday night at 7:30 pm, and the winner will take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Game Stats
Our Three Stars
1. Hedman (TBL): 1 Assist
2. Hagel (TBL): 2 Assists
3. Colton (TBL): 2 Goals
Media's Three Stars
1. Hedman (TBL): 1 Assist
2. Hagel (TBL): 2 Assists
3. Maroon (TBL): 1 Goals
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