Maple Leafs Game 2 Recap: Payback

It's game two of the Toronto Maple Leafs first round series against the Tamp Bay Lightning. The Leafs lost game one 7-3 and are looking to start this game on a higher note.

The game starts with an icing call, just like game one. Let's not repeat any of game one, eh?

Well, one difference is Ian Cole is called for tripping Mitch Marner, and how!

The Leafs don't waste any time on this power play, scoring off the faceoff with a Mitch Marner five hole slapshot.

One minute into the game and the Leafs lead 1-0.

After Ilya Samsonov makes a save and covers for the faceoff we get a scrum around the Leafs net, the focus of the pushing and shoving is Corey Perry (of course) but it turns out to be Mark Giordano and Zach Bogosian who square off for a quick tussle.

Matthew Knies gets on the scoresheet in his first NHL playoff game, and first home game for the Leafs, when he's called for hooking. It's a bit of a week call, usually you can lift a stick, but sure. Okay.

The Maple Leafs powerplay is getting huge cheers as they routinely clear the puck from their zone, block Tampa shots, and leap at chances to get possession away from the visitors.

Ilya Samsonov is on top of his game early on tonight and everyone on and off the ice is giving him cheers for making the saves.

The Lightning don't score on the power play, and we reach the midpoint of the game with a 1-0 Leafs lead and Tampa leading in shots 7-1. Toronto is coming in hard tonight, much better than we saw at the start of last game. Tampa isn't a lightweight opponent tonight but the Leafs aren't letting them in as easy as they were on Tuesday.

Jake McCabe gets called for roughing Corey Perry, who sold a bit, but McCabe got away with a blatant interference down the ice, so, I'm not too mad. Powerplay #2 for Tampa.

The penalty kill is clogging the slot, forcing Tampa to keep their shots to the outside, and Samsonov is sliding across the crease with ease to be in the way of the puck. It isn't as easy to clear as last time, but the Leafs manage to keep it out long enough to kill another penalty.

The Leafs rush the Lightning end as the penalty ends, and almost score, but can't get it done. They attack the Lightning zone right away again, Vasilevskiy makes the save and we have an offensive zone faceoff.

And right off puck drop, John Tavares gets it back to Morgan Rielly who skates behind the net, passes it back to Tavares and the Captain makes it 2-0.

Auston Matthews tries to make it three, but he rips his shot off the cage of Vasilevskiy's mask, knocks it off and the play is blown dead.

The Lightning get a delayed penalty, so the Leafs are zooming around the offensive zone with six players on the ice, and William Nylander takes a wicked wrister from the faceoff dot and gets it top corner to make it 3-0.

Steven Stamkos still gets two minutes for high-sticking even with the goal on the delayed penalty. Maple Leafs power play number two.

They're able to set up shots, and keep momentum going, but no goal on this one. The Lightning don't want to go into intermission with the Leafs riding three unanswered goals, but are unable to get anything in the net and we go into first intermission with the Leafs up 3-0 and leading shots 12-8.

No one slows down for the opening of the second period tonight, Tampa ripping off a quick five shots off in the first couple of minutes, but the Leafs are there to play defense and keep the Lightning off the scoresheet.

The Maple Leafs offense is making it clear that the Lightning need Viktor Hedman on the ice, as they spend a solid four minutes just owning the Lightning in their own ends. The crowd is on their feet, screaming for a goal, but the Leafs can't get it in despite multiple attempts to boost their lead.

All good things must come to an end however, as Ian Cole, despite being on the ice for almost two minutes, is able to get the puck out of the Tampa Zone, and after a pass from the blue line, he dekes out Samsonov and backhands into an empty side of the net.

3-1 Toronto. Uh oh. The most dangerous lead in hockey.

In the Lightning end the Leafs come close to scoring again, but gets saved. In retaliation for that, Nikita Kucherov welcomes Matthew Knies to the NHL with a little bit of boarding.

The Maple Leafs are not taking their foot off the gas (offensively) and get a fourth goal on the board when John Tavares gets his second of the game by roofing a William Nylander rebound into the top of the Lightning net.

4-1 Maple Leafs.

The tough game isn't out of the Leafs reach either, as players aren't taking anything from the Lightning, and Auston Matthews levels Anthony Cirelli at the Toronto blue line.

The fourth line gets into the action, rushing the Tampa zone., crashing the net, and Zach Aston-Reese scores the fifth goal of the night for the Maple Leafs.

5-1 Toronto.

Do we want to settle for five goals? Hell no. Mitch Marner gets credit for a Tampa Bay own goal. Marner takes the shot from the point and it goes off Brandon Hagel's leg for goal number six.

6-1 Toronto.

Once again the Maple Leafs head into the dressing room after scoring three unanswered goals, and lead the game 6-1 and shots 30-17.

No icing to start the third! But tradition!

The third starts mostly uneventful, the Lightning aren't attacking as hard, taking more time between runs at the Leafs net, collecting themselves in their own zone. The Leafs aren't. When they get the puck they're taking on the Lightning just as hard and fast as they have been all game.

The Lightning can't beat the Leafs on the scoreboard tonight so they try to beat the on the ice again, as Luke Schenn squares off against Tanner Jeannot. The veteran blueliner doesn't hold up as well against his opponent, but Jeannot had something to prove when making his playoff debut for Tampa.

The Leafs won't be pulled into nonsense tonight. They're going to win this game and do nothing but score goals.

The Lightning get their chance when they rush up the ice from behind their own net. A cross crease pass gets Samsonov off his game, he goes down, and Corey Perry scores the second goal for the visitors tonight.

6-2 Maple Leafs.

We got more of the rough stuff. After a save is made a scrum forms behind the Leafs net, Pat Maroon throws Giordano down, Holl tries to fight Perry after he gets hit from behind.

After some discussion at the penalty box Corey Perry is escorted off the ice to the Tampa dressing room. Penalties from that: Perry gets five for fighting, two for roughing. Holl gets five for fighting, two for roughing. Maroon gets two for slashing, so it's a Maple Leafs power play. Then it's a five on three after Nick Paul is called for delay of game - puck over the glass.

The Leafs surround the Lightning zone, passing, passing, holding, passing, and a John Tavares hat trick makes it 7-2!

No one is letting up as the clock ticks down. Tampa is going goon mode, post whistle pushes, scrums, Pat Maroon hitting William Nylander. He gets escorted off the ice.

Twenty seconds into the powerplay, the Leafs get another five on three, Ian Cole closed his hand on the puck. But that's wiped out when Matthew Knies gets called for slashing.

The Maple Leafs ere much feistier than they were last night, came out hard, took advantage of Tampa missing a couple big defenders, and got their revenge by beating the Lightning by five in game two while Tampa only won by four in game one.

The series is now tied at one each. Maple Leafs lead total goals 10-9. They made Tampa forget their offensive plan and go goon mode. Excellent game for the Leafs.

Thank you all for joining us tonight. Game three is Saturday night at 7PM in Tampa Bay.