Three Takeaways From Maple Leafs Big Win Over The Defending Champs
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning played their first game of the opening round yesterday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could not have asked for a better first game of the postseason beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-0 at home. Toronto looked like a team ready to take that next step, while Tampa looked like a defending champion a little tired.
It was all Leafs all night long. Toronto outshot the Lightning 33 to 24 on the game, and they had the puck a heck of a lot more than the Lightning did driving play most of the night. This was a terrific game one.
Auston Matthews scored a pair of goals and the other goal scorers on the night included Jake Muzzin, David Kampf and Mitch Marner. The nail in this game had to be David Kampf’s short-handed goal in the second to give the Leafs a three to zero lead.
Jack Campbell pitched a shutout on the night stopping all 24 shots he faced, and for a goalie, you cannot ask for a better start to a series than a shutout.
Kind of crazy that there were two shutouts on the first day of the postseason. Just something to think about as we enter day two of the playoffs. Without further ado let’s jump in with the three takeaways from this epic game between the Lightning and Leafs!
1. Auston Matthews shows his potential.
Auston Matthews has gotten it done during the regular season. He led the league in goals this season and had a remarkable year, but the postseason is when things matter most.
After losing out in the first round the past few years with the Leafs Matthews looks ready to lead this team out of the first round and on a playoff run. His two goals and assist were key to the victory tonight, and his three takeaways led the team.
In a playoff series, you need your top guys to help lead the charge, and the Leafs had that last night in Toronto.
Hopefully, Matthews and the Leafs can keep this going because as the Lightning know a series is not just one game.
2. The defending champs reminded everyone why it’s hard to win every year.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have played a lot of playoff hockey the past few seasons. They have won eight straight rounds of playoff hockey and that streak is going to come to an end eventually. This was the first postseason the Lightning have entered having played a full 82 games over the course of the past three seasons.
Maybe that long season on top of a lot of playoff hockey has finally caught up to them. Maybe the salary cap moves they have had to make in order to keep certain players has left the team worse off than in past seasons. No one would be that upset to see this team bow out of the postseason early after winning back to back cups.
The Leafs look hungry. With so much talent on their roster itching for a playoff run, it makes sense that this Leafs team could be destined for a quick series against the Lightning. But the thing is with this team, I don’t think they are done just yet. This series is far from over.
3. What happens from here is still anyone’s guess.
In the Lightning’s past eight series of playoff hockey, they have lost the first game three times. Boston and Dallas in 2020, and New York last season. That one game did not define their season and I do not think this game will define their season either.
Tampa is too good to roll over after this loss. They have so much star talent as well as guys like Corey Perry and Pat Maroon who can help spark some momentum when the game needs it the most.
Perry was a part of the Canadiens last season, the one that beat that crazy series against the Leafs last year, and one would imagine he is looking to beat them again now.
As a road team, you only need to split the first two games of the playoffs on the road. For Tampa that means there is no need to panic and all the reason just to go back out there on Wednesday and win this game.
Tampa Bay is not going to roll over against the Leafs, and the scary thing is losing five to zero might have been the worst way to wake up this sleeping monster. We will find out how these two teams answer when puck drop hits for game two tomorrow.