On Oct. 21, the Toronto Maple Leafs (4-2-0) had their means with the Tampa Bay Lightning (3-2-0), handing the Bolts a 5-2 defeat at Scotiabank Enviornment. This win bumped the Maple Leafs as much as second place within the Atlantic Division.
Toronto opened the scoring, courtesy of a William Nylander glove-side shot off a feed from Max Domi. That was Nylander’s fourth purpose in as many video games and Domi’s sixth help in his final 5 contests—each of them are scorching sizzling.
Later within the opening body, Victor Hedman sprung Nicholas Paul on a breakaway that was initially stopped, however the rebound went off of Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit and into the online. The unlucky bounce tied the sport 1-1.
After the mishap, the Leafs ran away with the sport. Auston Matthews jammed at a unfastened puck to provide his crew the lead simply 1:56 into the second interval, with assists coming from Mitch Marner and Nylander. Now on a three-game goal-scoring streak, Matthews is quietly sneaking his means up within the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race. He has gained the award thrice prior to now 4 seasons.
Nylander struck once more following a steal and one-handed dish by Bobby McMann. These two, together with Domi, have constructed up some good chemistry this season.
Associated: Nylander-Domi-McMann: Maple Leafs’ Most Profitable Line
Max Pacioretty joined in on the enjoyable with the crew’s third second-period purpose previous to the 10-minute mark. That was the straw that broke the camel’s again, as Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled.
The Maple Leafs’ remaining second-period tally was from Matthew Knies. Marner acquired his second major help of the sport on that one.
We name {that a} Knies end pic.twitter.com/L6tWJTWRpY
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 22, 2024
Tampa Bay acquired some revenge late, making the rating a bit extra respectable at 5-2. Brayden Level acquired a power-play marker with assists from Nikita Kucherov and Hedman.
General, Anthony Stolarz turned apart 32 of the 34 photographs he confronted in Toronto’s crease. For the Lightning, Vasilevskiy may solely save 10 of the 14 photographs that got here his means. Backup Jonas Johansson was in a position to restrict the bleeding with 14 saves on 15 photographs.
Subsequent up, the Lightning will keep on the highway to face the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 22. That’s the highest crew within the NHL by factors (11), so it’ll be back-to-back enormous exams for Tampa Bay. Toronto gained’t have a lot of a break, both, as they’re again in motion to go to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 22, too.
