The Toronto Maple Leafs made a spirited comeback, but the Lightning held on for a 5-3 victory Wednesday night.
The Toronto Maple Leafs played a solid two games and although they should be happy with how they played, the results probably could have been better.
Though the Leafs probably deserved to win the game last night, they head to Tampa bay having shown the defending champs that they are their equal.
It will now be a best of five.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2
The Leafs came out and played a great first period, which was marred by a kind of unlucky last second goal by Tampa. (Stats naturalstattrick.com).
In the second, the Leafs could have tied the game and maybe even taken a lead, but Andre Vasilevskiy made at least one completely insane save, and several other great ones.
After that, it was a penalty fest and Tampa got some very favorable calls, the Leafs PK was terrible, and that was the game.
I liked the Leafs attempt at a comeback, even if it was a little late, it’s good to see that they don’t quit. Vs Columbus two years ago they came back from three goals down, and last year vs Montreal, they forced overtime in two games where they were down by two.
In game one, Tampa looked old and tired vs a much younger, better team. In game two they responded, but the response wasn’t anything close to what the Leafs handed out in game one, and Tampa had to get lucky to win this.
The Leafs carried the play at 5v5, for the most part, and the game was tied 2-2 at even-strength on the night. The Toronto Maple Leafs top three lines were all better than Tampa’s at 5v5, but the Leafs 4th line got absolutely demolished.
Wayne Simmonds doesn’t have to dress. He was god-awful and also took a couple of idiotic penalties. The fact is, the Leafs have several better options (including Nick Robertson) and they should take advantage. And although he’s fast, Colin Blackwell’s results haven’t really been very good at all since he got here. I would like to see the Leafs go with Spezza, Robertson and Joey Anderson for game 3, but I doubt that happens.
You really hate to see a situation where your top six wins 2-0 and your bottom six loses 2-0, and personally, I would prefer to see Nylander in the top six because even though penalties contributed to his lack of ice time, he’s got to be well above ten minutes 5v5 every game, or you’re just hurting yourself.
As it stands, after two, you have to be happy that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been the better team, but it would be nice to have won.