Bolts score 7 to handle Leafs in game 4

It was the fourth straight game that one team scored five or more goals, this time once again it was the Tampa Bay Lightning who hit back to even out the series at two apiece with a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs

The first period was all Tampa, as Steven Stamkos got his first of the playoffs and with it the Bolts on the board just one minute into the opening frame. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare added another just minutes later, before Pat Maroon grabbed his first of the playoffs as well to make it 3-0 not even 10 minutes into the first. 

The second period wasn’t much better as Ross Colton and Corey Perry both grabbed their second goals of the series to pull this one further out of reach at 5-0. The defending champs held complete control of the second period surrendering just four shots to Toronto through the entire frame.

The third period sparked some life from the Buds though as William Nylander potted his first two of these playoffs, with the second coming off an assist from Captain John Tavares. Jake Muzzin also got in on the action, ripping a shot from the top of the circle to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy for his second of the playoffs.

But a pot from Ondrej Palat, as well as Ross Colton’s second of the game via empty net, gave the Lightning seven total goals on the night.

The late effort, though valiant, would prove not enough as these two teams continue to exchange wins with the series tied at two.

Toronto once again struggled taking undisciplined penalties giving Tampa eight man advantages with the Bolts capitalizing on just one. They now hop on a flight back north of the border to Toronto with game five going Tuesday evening.

Scoring Summary 

1st Period

1:00 - TB Steven Stamkos (1) 1-0

5:20 - TB Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (1) 2-0

7:58 - TB Pat Maroon (1) 3-0

2nd Period

3:17 - TB Ross Colton (2) 4-0

5:25 - TB Corey Perry PPG (2) 5-0

3rd Period 

2:27 - TOR William Nylander PPG (1) 5-1

12:01 - TOR William Nylander (2) 5-2

14:40 - TB Ondrej Palat ENG (2) 6-2

15:41 - TOR Jake Muzzin (2) 6-3

17:44 - TB Ross Colton ENG (3) 7-3