John Tavares scored 4:35 into additional time, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Saturday evening for his or her first NHL playoff sequence win in almost 20 years.
The Maple Leafs gained the best-of-seven matchup in six video games, successful 3 times in additional time on the street and ending an 11-game shedding streak in elimination video games. They superior in a sequence for the primary time since 2004, a irritating drought that included first-round exits every of the previous six seasons.
The loss, in the meantime, ends Tampa Bay’s run of three consecutive appearances within the Stanley Cup Last. The Lightning gained back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021, however they misplaced to the Colorado Avalanche in six video games final yr.
Auston Matthews additionally scored for the Maple Leafs, beating Andrei Vasilevskiy from the highest of the fitting circle at 13:47 of the second interval. Tavares added the winner, which trickled previous the Lightning goalie after showing to deflect off a defender’s skate.
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Toronto Maple Leafs middle John Tavares (91) celebrates with defenseman Luke Schenn (2) after Tavares scored the game-winning in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning throughout additional time in Recreation 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff sequence Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photograph/Chris O’Meara)
Steven Stamkos scored for Tampa Bay, which a yr in the past rallied from 2-1 and 3-2 sequence deficits to remove Toronto within the first spherical in seven video games.
Two nights after stopping 28 photographs to fend off elimination and trim Toronto’s sequence result in 3-2, Vasilevskiy was on high of his recreation once more.
The Toronto Maple Leafs rejoice their win over the Tampa Bay Lightning throughout additional time in Recreation 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff sequence Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photograph/Chris O’Meara)
AFTER FAILING TO CLOSE OUT AT HOME, KRAKEN TRAVEL TO COLORADO TO FACE DEFENDING CHAMPION AVALANCHE IN GAME 7
Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov was simply nearly as good, holding Tampa Bay scoreless till Stamkos positioned himself completely in entrance of the web to knock in a rebound at 4:19 of the third interval.
Samsonov completed with 31 saves. Vasilevskiy stopped 20 of twenty-two photographs.
Toronto Maple Leafs middle John Tavares (91) celebrates with proper wing Mitchell Marner (16) after Tavares scored the game-winning aim in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning throughout additional time in Recreation 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff sequence Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photograph/Chris O’Meara)
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BUNTING RETURNS
Toronto ahead Michael Bunting returned to the lineup for the primary time since he was suspended for 3 video games for an unlawful test to the pinnacle and interference in opposition to Tampa Bay defenseman Erik Cernak throughout Recreation 1. He was eligible to return for Recreation 5, however coach Sheldon Keefe select to go along with the identical lineup for the fourth straight recreation. Cernak has not performed for the Lightning because the sequence opener.
