It was all Tampa Bay in game one. They dominated from start to finish. The Leafs briefly got themselves back in the game in the second period but a match penalty from Michael Bunting erased any possibility of a comeback. Below are the highlights from the game.
Tampa struck first with a goal from the bottom six. The Leafs turned the puck over trying to clear the zone and Corey Perry threw it on net. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare cleaned up the rebound…
THE LIGHTNING STRIKE FIRST! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/KjyT5WsxOm
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 18, 2023
The Lightning doubled their lead on a similar play a few minutes later. Another scramble in front. This time it was Anthony Cirelli finishing the rebound…
Anthony Cirelli on the doorstep! 💥 pic.twitter.com/jpr7pS5Q1n
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 18, 2023
With time just about to expire in the first the Bolts made it 3-0. Mikhail Sergachev set up Nikita Kucherov on the powerplay. He rocketed a one-timer past Ilya Samsonov…
Welcome back playoff Kucherov. 😮💨
Don’t miss any of the Game 1 action between the Maple Leafs and Lightning live on Sportsnet! pic.twitter.com/eBaCiUGB7X
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 19, 2023
Toronto got back in the game in the middle frame. They responded with a powerplay marker of their own. John Tavares found Ryan O’Reilly in front and he made no mistake. 3-1 Lightning…
PPG FOR ROR!!! pic.twitter.com/uPNC4gZyO6
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 19, 2023
Shortly after O’Reilly’s goal, Samsonov made a couple huge stops on Perry to keep the game within two…
huge stop from Samsonov pic.twitter.com/yTZA0ADb7F
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 19, 2023
The Leaf’s powerplay connected again later in the second. Tavares set the screen in front and William Nylander wired a wrist shot blocker side to cut the lead to one…
😎 PLAYOFF STYLES 😎 pic.twitter.com/X4CTfGq4QI
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 19, 2023
After the goal Jake McCabe got the boys going by laying a massive hit on Mikey Eyssimont. Unfortunately David Kampf was called for slashing right after…
big hit from McCabe on Eyssimont pic.twitter.com/ebJ9VTvCsN
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 19, 2023
The special teams battle continued. Tampa extended their lead back to two with a goal from Brayden Point. Kucherov set him up in front and he patiently waited out Samsonov. 4-2 Lightning…
Brayden Point is him. 🔥
Catch all the #StanleyCup Playoff action between the Maple Leafs and Lightning on Sportsnet! pic.twitter.com/ZwyxdGcgQl
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 19, 2023
It was all downhill from there. Michael Bunting took away any chance of a Leafs comeback by hitting Erik Cernak with a cheap shot. He was assessed a match penalty and could very likely be sitting for more than just the rest of game one…
Michael Bunting has received a 5-minute match penalty for an illegal check to the head on Erik Cernak. pic.twitter.com/aY8TnNZgWl
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 19, 2023
Perry made it 5-2 during the Bunting powerplay. It was called a goal on the ice but it was difficult to tell if the puck crossed the line. The play went under review and after being called a goal for the second time Sheldon Keefe challenged the play for goaltender interference. The goal was confirmed for a third time, putting the Leafs down two men for the next two minutes…
After two reviews, Corey Perry makes it a 5-2 game in Toronto. 🫣 pic.twitter.com/akZmE2XnZT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 19, 2023
Just after Toronto killed off the bench minor Point notched his second goal of the game. A soft backhand from the slot found it’s way through Samsonov’s five hole to beat the second period buzzer. Joseph Woll replaced Samsonov to start the third…
BRAYDEN POINT.
THAT’S IT. THAT’S THE TWEET. pic.twitter.com/EetJeIAQV4
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 19, 2023
Ross Colton made it 7-2 in the third. A beauty stretch pass from Nick Perbix sent him in all alone on Woll. He beat the Leafs backup under the arm…
What a pass from Nick Perbix. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Mohbw7MXpp
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 19, 2023
Long after the game was over Calle Jarnkrok got another for the Leafs. Too little too late…
Calle Järnkrok reunites with the top line and scores 🚨 pic.twitter.com/h5fTkg8XK4
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 19, 2023
Later in the third Woll put up a rare Leafs highlight. He stretched out to deny Nick Paul with the pad. Game one goes to Tampa. 7-3 Lightning final…
nice stretch save on Paul by Woll pic.twitter.com/2vrba6RWmV
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 19, 2023
