The Toronto Maple Leafs came back from a 4-1 deficit in the third period to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in overtime on Monday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference. The series now stands at 3-1 in favor of the Maple Leafs (Sportsnet). In a post-game interview, coach Sheldon Keefe expressed hopefulness that the victory was indicative of the spirit of his team (Maple Leafs Hot Stove).
The Maple Leafs had an incredible third period, with Auston Matthews leading the effort with two goals. Alexander Kerfoot scored the game-winner on a power play during overtime (Sportsnet). Meanwhile, the Lightning’s head coach Jon Cooper credited the Leafs with a strong performance, stating that it is “tough to come back on the road in a” playoff game (The Leafs Nation).
In Game 3, the Maple Leafs’ goaltender Ilya Samsonov did not speak to the press following their win against the Lightning (The Hockey News). While it is unclear why Samsonov did not speak to reporters, his affability and willingness to speak in previous interviews has been noted.
Michael Bunting’s three-game run with the Leafs came to an end, raising questions on where he will slot in to the Leafs’ lineup moving forward (The Leafs Nation). Fans of the team have been questioning lineups and strategies, with coach Keefe hinting at possible changes to his team’s lines (The Hockey News).
As the playoff series progresses, the Maple Leafs will need to maintain their strong performances in order to advance in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. The next game will be crucial for both teams. Ahead of Game 4, Keefe noted that three of his team’s lines had struggled in Game 3 despite their victory (The Hockey News).
