TAMPA, Fla. – When Steven Stamkos put home a rebound of a Darren Raddysh shot at 4:11 of the third period to knot the score at one, and with Amalie Arena as electric as ever, was followed shortly by Andrei Vasilevskiy stopping Auston Matthews point blank, it appeared as though the Lightning were not about to be denied forcing a Game 7 in Toronto.
Not to be, though, as the Maple Leafs exorcised 19 years of frustration in defeating the Lightning, 2-1, in Game 6 on Saturday night. John Tavares’ goal at 4:36 of overtime sent Toronto into the second round for the first time since 2004.
Incredibly, the Lightning have lost 10 of their last 11 overtime playoff games, including all three home games in this series. Dating to last year’s Cup final against Colorado, Tampa Bay has lost five straight at Amalie.
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“We played well enough to win the series,” said coach Jon Cooper. “I think anybody who watched the series would agree with that, but you can’t lose three overtime games at home.”
The Lightning’s early exit follows three straight trips to the Stanley Cup final, and having won it all in 2020 and 2021. The Bolts last lost in the first round in 2019 when they were swept by Columbus.
“This team had not lost a playoff series in the Eastern Conference since 2019,” said Cooper. “It is 2023. It just doesn’t feel good. I think there are 31 other teams in the league that would like to have our history here the last 10 years, five years, three years.”
Toronto broke the ice at 13:47 of the second period when Matthews took a TJ Brodie feed and sent a laser from inside the right circle past Vasilevskiy. That would be the only scoring until Stammer’s goal.
Since their last series win in 2004, a seven-game decision over Ottawa, the Maple Leafs had lost 11 straight playoff games in which they had a chance to eliminate an opponent. Four Leafs, Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly and William Nylander endured all 11 defeats.
“It’s a mix of being relieved, you’re happy and all that,” said Rielly. “But you want to keep going. We are looking forward to playing more hockey.”
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