Most called tonight’s Game 4 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Lightning in Tampa, a statement game. Were the Leafs happy to go home with split ? How angry were the Bolts to give away game three ?
Toronto game changers were Morgan Reilly, Ilya Samsonov , Ryan O’Reilly and some thought Luke Schenn. Will they stand and shine again, or will “secondary” players like TJ Brodie, Jake McCabe, John Tavares and William Nylander step and take a starring role ?
Tampa Bay were relieved to be able to send out Brayden Point and a still healthy Victor Hedman. But where does goalie Vasilevskiy fit in ? His save % of 8:53 in the first 3 games has got to have somebody nervous.
As you may have expected, The Tampa Lightning started the game with revenge on their mind, hitting anything that moved, crisp passing breakouts and applying extreme pressure from the get-go. At one point later in the opening frame they had a 25-9 shot advantage. Ilya Samsonov continued to stand tall but he could not be expected to win another game on his own. First it was a Branden Hagel penalty shot that he kicked away, followed by a Nick Killorn goal and then another by Mikael Sergeyev. 2 zero Bolts after one.
Well Leafs Nation, the second period was not pretty. Coach Keefe warned one and all that changes could be made and true to his word, he put Tavares with Marner and Knies, Mathews with Nylander and Jarnkrok and O’Reilly with Accurai and Kerfoot. To what end some may ask. Well Accurai did make it 2-1 to start the period. But Captain Stevie converted a Victor Hedman charge not long after to make it 3-1. The previously dormant Kilorn scored his second with 1:11 left in off the post. 4-1.
Just as I was thinking of flipping over to Blue Jays game, the Leafs seemed to snap out of their malaise. At the 10 minute mark Auston Mathews made it 4 to 2 from Marner and Nylander. Ho-Hum. And then, AM34 tipped in another, this time with less that 7 minutes remaining. OK, Leafs Nation has awaken. Just 2:45 seconds later series MVP Mo Reilly tied the game, stunning the hometown crowd. That was 3 goals in 6 minutes to send this thing in to overtime. Sami made two huge counter saves late in the period to secure the tie. Who knew ?
After years of disappointment (and I don’t want to jinx this), the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have cleared a path to a first round victory. Alex Kerfoot tipped in a Marc Giordano point shot off nice cross-ice feed from Nylander to shock the Lightning after they lead 4-1 with 10 minutes left in the game. The two clutch, overtime wins in Florida secured TML a 3 to 1 lead in their best of seven series going home for a game five in Tranna on Thursday. WOW !
HOPPER NOTES: Not much to say after that gutsy comeback win…I’m not sure what they’re paying Ryan O’Reilly, but it should be at least be equal to the “so-called” big four…I said to my little Pal Glennie after that game one debacle, “can you imagine the riots if the Leafs go out 4 straight ?”…oh, and shame on all you Morgan Reilly haters – CHEERS
After the last game I fought the urge to turn this one off, still cautious, buttttt dare to dream 😁👍
I have been very disappointed in Morgan this year.
I thought he’s lost it.
Man, is he having a playoff.
Turned into a refuse to lose playoff performer right before our eyes.
Something I was hoping to see from AM34 whose play seems less than intense.
That fire in your eyes look..Rocket Richard eyes..
Regardless, AM34 got the big goals.
Reilly Oh Reilly again.
My two wish list items for the off season.
1/ Buy out Matt Murray, sign Samsonov.
2/Sign Ryan O’Reilly
Just need one out of three and we can have a win a round parade.