Leafs take 3-1 series lead vs. Lightning with OT win: Concerns remain for Toronto despite stunner

Publish date: 2024-06-30

The Tampa Bay Lightning surrendered a three-goal third-period lead in Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, eventually losing 5-4 in overtime to fall to 3-1 in the first-round playoff series. Here’s what you need to know:

The Lightning opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the first period, tapped in by Alex Killorn. They doubled the lead late in the first then piled on two more in the second period — including another by Killorn, marking his sixth career multigoal game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Leafs — in search of their first playoff series win since 2004 — got on the board early in the second period with a tip-in by Noel Acciari. They didn’t score again until Auston Matthews netted a pair of goals midway through the third period, then Morgan Rielly tied the game with just under four minutes left.
Alexander Kerfoot scored the game winner on the power play 4:14 into overtime.
Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov logged 27 saves, while Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy had 32.
The series heads back to Toronto for Game 5 at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Kerfoot the OT hero

Just 4:14 into overtime, Kerfoot scored just his third playoff goal for the Leafs with an impressive tip. Kerfoot had scored just 10 goals this season and was open about his offensive struggles. But with one of his biggest goals in his career, those struggles are probably the furthest thing from his mind.

“I could not be happier for anybody,” Rielly said of Kerfoot postgame. — Kloke

GO DEEPER

'Everyone loves him': After difficult season, Alex Kerfoot plays overtime hero

Leafs were outplayed for long stretches

For 50 minutes or so, the Leafs were outplayed, with William Nylander and John Tavares in particular not playing near what they’re capable of. One of the biggest question marks heading into this series was whether every one of the Leafs’ top four forwards could all show up and produce as a cohesive unit. Nylander’s struggles were exacerbated by a needless tripping penalty that was followed by a Lightning power-play goal.

The Leafs’ head coach had little choice after the first intermission to juggle his lines. In the second period, Keefe split up previous forward pairs of Matthews and Mitch Marner as well as Tavares and Nylander, but up until the Leafs mounted their comeback midway through the third period, it felt like too little too late for the Leafs.

Some of the Leafs’ best players struggling in Game 4 felt like a continuation of Game 3. Of course, Toronto’s win is what matters in the short term, but the team’s struggles for far too long are concerning moving forward. — Kloke

Vasilevskiy looks beatable and Lightning look tired

In both Games 3 and 4, the Lightning outplayed the Leafs for the majority of the games and deserve credit for doing so. But that the Leafs were able to find their way back into games with late tying goals suggests that perhaps the Lightning are a tired team, worn down after going to the Stanley Cup Finals three seasons in a row.

These are not the types of games the Lightning have a tendency to lose. Nor are these the types of games that Vasilevskiy plays. Through four games, he has allowed 19 goals and has an .856 save percentage.

The former Conn Smythe and Vezina Trophy winner has not been the difference maker he’s been expected to be in this series. — Kloke

Highlights of the game

LEAFS COMPLETE THE COMEBACK‼️

Toronto comes back from behind down 4-1 to winning in OT.

They lead the series 3-1 heading back to Canada.

🎥 @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/hipgBd4IR7

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 25, 2023

Morgan Rielly rips one home and just like that we got a tie game ‼️ pic.twitter.com/whg3dfJHC3

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 25, 2023

Toronto forward Matthew Knies also had a key save at the goal line in the second period to keep it a one-goal game at the time.

Matthew Knies keeps the game close with an amazing play in the crease 🤯

🎥 @BR_OpenIce pic.twitter.com/8eiLVnPpYe

— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) April 25, 2023

Key stat

Toronto is 11-2 when leading a seven-game series 3-1, including 7-1 when starting at home, per the NHL.

NHL playoff bracket

The 2023 NHL postseason is alive and well.

Fill out your full bracket for the Western and Eastern Conference Playoffs ⤵️https://t.co/E8MXPu4GJE pic.twitter.com/pfRuj6QZqG

— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) April 17, 2023

Required reading

(Photo: Mike Carlson / NHLI via Getty Images)

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