Maple Leafs rally, top Lightning in OT for 3-1 series lead
The Toronto Maple Leafs wiped out a three-goal deficit in the third period, then beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 on Alexander Kerfootโs power-play goal at 4:14 of overtime to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in their first-round NHL playoff matchup.
Lightning Effect: Skilled NHL teams add grit to go for Cup
Rewind to 2019 and early 2020 and that description fits the Tampa Bay Lightning, who added some grit and toughness to their talented core and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Lightning effect was clear as soon as NHL free agency opened. โYou need guys that are going to have a little bit of sandpaper. โWe maybe have taken a little bit of a step back from the most skillful lineup weโve ever had to more of a balance between the will and the skill," Poile said. We certainly have a little bit more physicality, a little bit more grit and I think itโs probably and hopefully a better mix than we had last year.โ___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Blue Jackets advance with 3-0 Game 5 win over Maple Leafs
TORONTO Goalie Joonas Kirpisalo and the Columbus Blue Jackets proved how they learned their lesson about holding three-goal leads. Korpisalo stopped 33 shots, Zach Werenski's floater from the left point in the first period held up as the winner, and the Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0 win in a decisive Game 5 on Sunday night. The Maple Leafs ran out of offense with captain John Tavares misfiring by hitting the post while facing a wide-open side in the first period. The Maple Leafs continued their one-and-done playoff woes in making their fourth straight postseason appearance, and fifth since the 2004-05 NHL lockout. NOTES: Maple Leafs LW Andreas Johnsson returned to play after being activated off injured reserve earlier in the day.
Maple Leafs shut out Blue Jackets 3-0 to even playoff series
TORONTO, ONT Auston Matthews and John Tavares scored and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Tuesday to even their best-of-five qualifying series at one game. Five Leafs power plays helped keep the Blue Jackets on their heels. Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno was just as disappointed. ... Blue Jackets D Dean Kukan left the bench for observation in the first period after a big hit by Toronto's Kyle Clifford but returned later in the period. That also was the first playoff shutout in Blue Jackets history.