The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to wait a bit longer before winning their first playoff series since 2004, since the Tampa Bay Lightning refused to admit defeat. Thursday evening, during the sixth duel, the “Bolts” won 4-3 in overtime at Amalie Arena to force the holding of an ultimate match.
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The two-time defending champions stayed alive thanks to Brayden Point, who pushed a throwback past Jack Campbell with just under two minutes left in the first overtime. Visibly very relieved, Point’s teammates congratulated him at length after this success.
Like the center player, the Lightning had to go for a second effort to overcome the Leafs. Nikita Kucherov temporarily saved the season for his team by tying the game on a five-on-three power play, with 10 minutes left in regulation. The visitors protested that two Lightning forwards had interfered with Campbell’s work, but officials did not change their minds.
Earlier, the Maple Leafs had scored three unanswered goals in the second period to take the lead. Auston Matthews closed the gap and John Tavares scored twice within 26 seconds, in the very last moments of the engagement.
Ondrej Palat and Anthony Cirelli, the latter shorthanded, were the other scorers for the Lightning.
Sometimes shaky, sometimes solid, goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiy finished the game with 30 saves. Campbell blocked 31 shots.
The seventh and final chapter of this series will take place on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
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