
#2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (March 10, 2020)
Result: Leafs win 2-1
After what looked to be an easy California road trip, the Leafs only secured one of a possible six points and had to come home to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Leafs were struggling and things didn’t look good against one of the best teams in the NHL.
In what would end up being their last regular season game of the 2019-20 campaign, the Leafs saved their best for last.
When you think of this team, you think of a high-flying offense and struggling defense. In order for the team to win, they typically would have to win with offense. They weren’t a team that would win a low-scoring tight game, but that changed against Tampa Bay.
From start-to-finish, the Leafs looked great. Nylander opened the scoring, but Ondrej Palat tied the game 1-1 in the second period. This is typically where the train would fall of the tracks, but the Leafs didn’t let that happen this time. Auston Matthews scored his 47th goal of the season in the third period, which would end up being the game-winner.
The Leafs killed off four penalties and showed that they could win a tight game for once. Unfortunately this was the last game they played for five months.