By Michael Wax
The Lightning face a 3-1 deficit for the second consecutive series, blowing a three-goal, third-period lead to the Maple Leafs, losing 5-4 in OT. Here are three things we noticed from the loss:
With a Vengeance
Alex Killorn didn't score a single goal in the 2022 playoffs, and while he played well to start this series, his goalless drought was getting to epic proportions. Killorn responded with two in this one, a tap in on the power play and a bar-down snipe to make it 4-1. The Harvard product could've easily had six goals, the entire second line was going crazy on offense in this one. Unfortunately, the rest of the team did not pick up the slack.
Shocked
For 40 minutes, everything went according to plan. The Lightning scored first, they were playing with purpose in the neutral zone, and the 2nd line was flying. Then, everything went downhill, and fast. Coverage was a mess, boxing out was atrocious, and the Leafs used their speed and deceptiveness to get free and score four straight. Vasilevskiy didn't preform as needed, the penalty kill fell apart, and now the Lightning face their 3-1 deficit.
2011 Redux?
Coming back from 3-1 down isn't unheard of in franchise history. In 2011, the Lightning faced a 3-1 deficit against the Penguins after a 2 OT loss at home in game four. Just like after this game, morale was at an all-time low, Low and behold, a game five blowout on the road turned into a 4-2 win in game six at home, which in turn produced a 1-0 shutout on the road to give the Lightning a massive comeback in the series.
It's been done before, it can be done again.
Three Stars
Media’s three stars
1. Kerfoot (TOR) - 2 Goals, OT Winner
2. Killorn (TBL) - 2 Goals
3. Matthews (TOR) - 2 Goals
Our three stars
1. Kerfoot (TOR) - 2 Goals, OT Winner
2. Killorn (TBL) - 2 Goals
3. Matthews (TOR) - 2 Goals
Game five will be Thursday, April 27, at 7:00 p.m.
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