Michael Eyssimont had a goal and an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Thursday night to force Game 6 in their first-round playoff series.
Anthony Cirelli also had a goal and an assist, Nicholas Paul scored and Alex Killorn got an empty net goal for Tampa. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves.
Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews scored for Toronto, which got 34 saves from Ilya Samsonov. John Tavares had two assists.
The Leafs still lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.
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In third period action, Tampa’s Nicholas Paul celebrates his goal. The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in game 5 of the first round of the playoffs in NHL hockey action at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. April 27, 2023. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Game 6 will be Saturday in Tampa. Game 7, if necessary, would be Monday at Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto, which hasn’t advanced to the postseason since 2004 and was eliminated by the Lightning in seven games in the first round last year, is now 0-10 since 2018 with the chance to eliminate a postseason opponent.
Tied at 1 after a spirited first period, the Lightning advanced at 4:23 of the second when Eyssimont beat Samsonov through the base pads from a tough angle for his first goal of the series.
The period ended in controversy when Pat Maroon smashed Toronto defenseman Mark Giordano from behind against the boards. The opening play was not called, but the Tampa winger was given a roughing penalty for the scrum that followed.
Giordano reunited with his teammates on the bench shortly after the restart after being looked at by the coach.
Paul made it 3-1 at 11:53 of the third with his first after the Leafs’ keeper was hit by teammate David Kampf.
In third period action, Tampa’s Nicholas Paul (20) celebrates his goal. The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in game 5 of the first round of the playoffs in NHL hockey action at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. April 27, 2023 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
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The home team got within one with 3:34 left in regulation when Matthews hit a loose puck for his fourth and third in the last two games, with Samsonov benched for an extra spiker.
The Leafs continued to desperately push for an equalizer and send the teams into a third straight overtime before Killorn sealed it with five seconds remaining.
Toronto, which has lost six straight series since 2017, opened the scoring at 4:46 of the first when Rielly, the longest-serving Leaf, scored his third of the series from the slot after Tavares beat out three players Lightning to turn on the drive. the crowd waving towels inside a frothy Scotiabank Arena.
Coming off Stanley Cup wins in 2020 and 2021 before losing in last year’s Finals to the Colorado Avalanche, and looking to keep his season alive, the Lightning responded just 26 seconds later when Cirelli scored his third in a fight.
THE RETURN OF EYSSIMONT
The Lightning forward suited up for the first time since he was eliminated from Game 1 with a hard hit from Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe. The inclusion of Eyssimont meant that Tanner Jeannot watched from the press box.
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of Round 1 of Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 27. April 2023 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. , ON, Canada. (Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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TRAY SITS
The gritty Toronto native was eligible to return to the lineup after serving his three-game suspension, but Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe elected to go with the same lineup for the fourth straight game. Michael Bunting recorded 23 goals and 49 points in the regular season.