Andre Vasilevskiy was impenetrable for most of the game, and Nikita Kucherov was unstoppable. That combination made it a rough night for Toronto, as the Maple Leafs fell to the Lightning 4-2 Wednesday at Benchmark International Arena.
Out of a playoff spot and in desperate need of points is how the Maple Leafs started the shortened second half of the NHL season. They finished their first game in the same predicament.
Fresh from the Olympic break, there was no feel-out first period or time to ease back into action. Both the Lightning and the Leafs hit the rink flying, going up and down the ice with few whistles in between. While the speed of the game created some offensive chances, neither team technically scored, although Tampa did have two goals taken off the board because of offside challenges.
The Lightning broke the scoreless tie 7:07 into the second period. Brayden Point fired one in that counted, taking advantage of some crisp Tampa passing and traffic in front of Anthony Stolarz to make it 1-0. Gage Gonclaves tacked on another 51 seconds later. The winger snuck between the Leafs ‘ defenders, took a pretty pass from Kucherov (his 700th career assist) at centre ice, and moved in on Stolarz all alone, tucking the puck by him to extend the lead to 2-0.
Toronto had some good chances of its own in the middle frame, including a William Nylander breakaway, but they could not solve Vasilevskiy.
Kucherov added a goal early in the third, ripping a one-timer past a fully extended Stolarz at 2:58.
Toronto coach Craig Berube pulled his goalie with 5:40 left, and the strategy worked temporarily. The Leafs went on the power play, and John Tavares put them on the board, scoring his 21st of the season at 16:19 to make it 3-1. Stolarz went back in the net for the ensuing face-off and moments later was beaten by Point to push the lead back to three, at 4-1.
The Leafs did not quit, responding with a Matthew Kneis goal at 17:11. That was where the comeback ended as the Toronto could not get any closer, falling to the Lightning 4-2.
Next up, Toronto is at it again tomorrow night as they travel across Florida to take on the Panthers.
