On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Lightning faced off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena, defeating them 4-3 in overtime. Both teams went back and forth with explosive offense as both teams got acclimated to the game. In the end, Alex Killorn came through with the game winner, giving the Lightning their 15th win this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto is a tough team. The Leafs came in 15-5-6 on the season and are second in the Atlantic division (one spot ahead of Tampa Bay). They match up well with the Lightning on aggressive, offensive hockey and have some of the top goal scorers in the league in Mitch Marner (10) and Auston Matthews (12).
In fact, Marner would get the scoring started in the second period with a goal following an uneventful first period. A wrist shot in front of the net made it 1-0 Maple Leafs. Marner had another goal later on in the third to tie the game and send it into OT. He set a franchise record with most consecutive games with a point (19 games in a row). He also leads the Leafs in points with 31.
Toronto goal-scoring leader William Nylander also scored for the Leafs with a goal in the second period to give Toronto a 2-1 lead. He was assisted by Matthews and Maple Leafs left winger Michael Bunting. Toronto center David Kampf also assisted the first of Marner’s goals.
Tampa Bay Lightning
As for the Lightning, the offense was flowing throughout the night. Down 1-0 in the first, Tampa Bay center Vladislav Namestnikov scored with assists coming from Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak.
Heading into the third period, Tampa Bay found themselves down 2-1 and they would tie the game up with a power play goal from the high-scoring Nikita Kucherov for his 11th goal of the season. Steven Stamkos and Corey Perry assisted the Lightning winger. Perry had another assist later in the game.
The Lightning got their third goal from Ross Colton, who has been a very consistent player this season. He was assisted by Perry and Mikhail Sergachev. For Sergachev, it was his 19th assist on the season as he has been one of the best passing players the Lightning have had this season.
Eventually, Marner’s second goal sent the game into overtime. But late in the OT period, it was Killorn that would deliver the kill shot with a second assist of the game coming from Cirelli.
Wrap-Up and Up Next
It seems when these two squads get together, it is always a great showing. Whether it was last season with the first round playoff matchup going to seven games, or now with this overtime winner. The Lightning and Leafs are two very possible options for teams that will meet again down the stretch.
The Lightning’s next game will be Tuesday night back in Amalie Arena against the Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. E.T.