It didn’t take long, as after Auston Matthews nearly broke Austin Watson’s ankles high in the zone and threw a puck on net, Matthew Knies’ hustle play to tie up the attempted clearance, help recover the puck, and go straight to the net was rewarded. AdvertisementsĪfter a positive fourth-line shift for the Leafs, their top line came over the boards on the fly against Tampa’s fourth line and was buzzing, with an air of inevitability to them scoring. In fact, it was an encouraging sign that it was the Leafs’ third and fourth lines generating the team’s first shot attempts/shot on goal and offensive-zone time of the game ( Max Domi was already skating better at C, and Nick Robertson ripped him a nice pass in stride through neutral ice for a shot attempt and an offensive-zone faceoff, followed by a chance for Ryan Reaves in front on the next shift). The 4-1 deficit wasn’t the result of the Leafs not starting on time.

The Leafs are down multiple goals to the Lightning? Got ‘em right where they want ‘em!ġ.

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