Game 4 recap: It was 4-1

The Toronto Maple Leafs came into game four leading the first round series 2-1, having won back to back games and looking to extend the series lead.

Matthew Knies gets some nice time with Victor Hedman as he's knocked to the ice and held down as the Lightning and Leafs battle for the puck underneath him.

The play goes up and down the ice from zone to zone without any getting any quality chances.

We're seven minutes in to the first period when the first whistle goes. It's for Anthony Cirelli after he cross checks Calle Jarnkrok, Maple Leafs to the power play.

The penalty kill is off it's game as the Lightning escape their zone with the puck multiple times, one ending with Morgan Rielly tripping Brandon Hagel as he breaks away resulting in a penalty shot that he sends right into Ilya Samsonov's pad.

The Leafs managed only one shot on that power play, and no goals. They do hit Mikhail Sergachev with a shot and send him crawling off the ice.

Tampa is controlling things pretty well and then they get their first power play of the game.

The Maple Leafs penalty kill is not as good as Tampa, allowing the hosts to set up a nice play in front of the Leafs net, and Alex Killorn scores from beside the net to make it 1-0 Tampa.

The physical game continues from last entries in this series, stifling offense as we don't have a combined 10 shots on goal yet as we get to the five minute mark in the game.

Tampa seems content with their one goal lead, and hold the puck back in their zone, patiently deciding on what play to run as the clock ticks down.

Their patience pays off with a second goal that comes from and easy entry to the Leafs zone, and Sergachev scores from the top of the faceoff circle.

2-0 Tampa Bay to end the first period.

The Maple Leafs start the second period off much better with three shots in the first two minutes, sadly no goals come of it.

They don't give up, and get back control of the puck every time it's dump out by Tampa.

Ryan O'Reilly strips a Lightning defender of the puck to keep it in the offensive zone, and he works the puck around the net, and Noel Acciari tips it in and cuts the Lightning lead by one.

2-1 Tampa Bay.

There's a shot on net and everyone scrambles for the rebound, with Matthew Knies falling into the crease and blocking the picks path into the net.

The Maple Leafs get a second chance at the power play when Victor Hedman is called for roughing Jake McCabe.

The power play is much better the second time around, but they still have a turnover that gives Alex Killorn a shorthanded breakaway that's turned away by Samsonov. That is the closest we come to a goal, as the Leafs are once again shutout with the man advantage.

After the power play ends the Lightning are allowed to set up in the Leafs end like they're on the powerplay, they aren't, and it gets them lose enough to the net for a Victor Hedman shot to bounce off the toe of Steven Stamkos' skate to make it 3-1 Lighting.

The Leafs battle hard in the Tampa zone, getting a couple close chances, with Knies battling hard especially, but it's called dead when John Tavares gets a high sticking penalty.

The Leafs PK is at least getting better as the game goes on, taking away more of the shooting lanes from the Lightning, and forcing the puck out of their zone better, and blocking more shots. Nothing on goal in that powerplay for Tampa.

Once again, the Maple Leafs give up a goal before the end of the period, with the Lighting able to get a pass from behind their net, up to the Leafs blueline, and Alex Killorn shoots from the blocker side face off dot and goes top corner to make it 4-1 Lighting.

The Leafs make a rush to the Tampa net, there's a pileup in the crease, and Sergachev throws a punch onto TJ Brodie while he's being held by a ref. Somehow they get offsetting roughing minors, so it's four on four for 43 seconds to end the second.

It will be four on four for 1:17 to start the third.

Or not, as Jake McCabe was given a crosschecking penalty after the whistle to end the second, and we'll have four on three to start.

No goals at all on any of the penalties, back to five on five where Tampa controls the play again and hems the Leafs in their end.

The Leafs start pushing harder, getting around Tampa's defense, and trying to play catch up as we get to the midway point of the third period.

Persistence pays off, and Auston Matthews cuts the lead to two goals.

4-2 Tampa Bay.

The Leafs keep pushing and attacking, and they get another break when Zach Bogosian is called for hooking Alex Kerfoot. Third power play for the Leafs this game.

Third time is the charm. It's not quick, but it's well set up. Auston Matthews is zooming around the Lightning zone so the Tampa PK can't get set very well, and e catches a pass and makes it 4-3 Tampa.

Once again we are back with a faceoff in the Tampa zone, and that's bad news for them because THE MAPLE LEAFS TIE THE GAME. It was 4-1, now it's 4-4.

Ilya Samsonov is coming up big when needed, as the Lightning go on a bit of a tear in the Leafs end. Eventually we get out and down to a faceoff by the Lighting net, but they run out the clock by icing the puck to dump it out.

Playoff overtime is coming up. Next goal wins.

The Leafs do well to start overtime, getting some close calls.

Making saves, an then we get a rare playoff overtime penalty for Mikhail Sergachev when he takes down William Nylander who almost scores the game winner.

The Leafs are coming on strong this power play, fighting for the puck, take shots even with Tampa clearing it regularly. It all ends when Mark Giordano shoots from the point, and the puck gets deflected in.

The Toronto Maple Leafs made the comeback, won the game 5-4, and are coming home Thursday night up 3-1 in the series.

They didn't give us much hope for almost 50 minutes, but then they turned it on. Leafs, can you please just make it easy on us in game 5? Please?

See you all Thursday! 7:00PM!