Toronto failed to win due to Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and some defensive lapses at Scotiabank Arena.
Auston Matthews scored his 63rd goal of the season, but it was all the Leafs could get against Vasilevskiy, who made 28 saves and helped Tampa Bay win 4-1.
“It’s one of those games where one or two mistakes our way, one or two saves their way (make the difference),” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We leave (Brayden) Point open alone at the net and give (Steven) Stamkos a 2-on-1 (for another goal), that ultimately is the difference.”
Joseph Woll did not play well in the Leafs’ net. Ilya Samsonov may not have needed it, but his hold on the starting position for the playoffs became a little stronger.
Our takeaways:
MATTHEW HITS 63.
Not only did Matthews get within seven goals of 70, but the Leafs also broke their power-play drought.
Matthews scored on a one-timer with one minute remaining in the first period, only three seconds after Luke Glendening began serving an interfering minor.
Morgan Rielly, who had returned to the lineup and the top power-play unit after missing four games due to an upper-body ailment, made the pass to Matthews. To begin the match, John Tavares defeated Anthony Cirelli in the draw.
The Leafs had gone 0-for-14 on the power play in their previous five games and failed to capitalize on their first opportunity on Wednesday. To put it plainly, the goal was desperately needed, and Rielly should be back on the No. 1 unit for good.
In the morning, Stamkos stated that scoring was not difficult during his 60-goal season in 2011-12.
Can Matthews relate?
“I don’t know,” Matthews replied. “Each night presents its own set of obstacles, including for myself. I’ve got the mindset of going in and competing and seeing what happens. When the puck goes in and you’re in a groove, it’s fantastic, but it’s a long season with ups and downs. You go through phases when it doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to happen again.”
Lightning coach Jon Cooper offered his thoughts on the comparison between Matthews and Washington Capitals starter Alex Ovechkin, making some valid points.
“When you pair the numbers up with Auston and Ovie, and you think Ovie is an untouchable, Auston has pretty much touched him and he has done better than he has at certain times,” Cooper went on to say. “You’re talking about the elite of the elite, some of the most talented players to ever play the game.
“Matthews is no longer a kid. He’s been doing that for a long time, so it’s very incredible.
Mistakes on Ice
The Leafs’ downfall was due to brain cramps.
They only allowed 14 shots on goal in the first two periods, but three of them were successful, giving Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead.
The first Lightning goal at 10:03 of the first period left little room for improvement. On a delayed Leafs penalty, defenseman Victor Hedman sent a wrist shot through from the point that beat a screened Woll high on the goalie’s blocker side.
Matthews responded late in the period, sending the sides into the break level 1-1.
What about the second period? It is not at all fresh.
Point scored at 2:54, deking to his backhand after being left alone in front of Woll with plenty of time to make a decision after receiving a pass from Nikita Kucherov.
Not only did TJ Brodie chase the ball up the side boards after Ilya Lyubushkin handled it like a hot potato, but Lyubushkin was unable to keep Kucherov behind the net once the puck returned to that area. David Kampf first drew a bead on Point, but then disregarded him and focused on the puck instead.
“Kampfer left the net front,” Keefe explained. “Just hang out there and wait for the D to heal. Just got to hold. “A little impatient there.”
The goal occurred after Keefe left the Leafs’ fourth line to face up against Kucherov and Point in the defensive zone. Kampf lost both.
“You have to trust some other guys, it’s that time of year,” Keefe said of his fourth-line role in that situation. “Like I said, we’re fine there if Kampfer holds the net front.”
Going with a defense-by-committee, as the Leafs are forced to do due to a dearth of legitimate top-four defensemen, can be problematic. The Leafs accomplished some solid defensive work, but when mistakes were made, Woll was unable to save his teammates.
Nick Paul beat Woll high in the third period, but Rielly, possibly anticipating a Paul feed to a teammate, failed to bridge the gap.
Are the errors a huge issue with the playoffs approaching? Not really, because they will happen from time to time (and by Leafs opponents as well). They do, however, serve as a reminder of the significance of maintaining mental sharpness throughout each shift.
REAVES REVIVING
Ryan Reaves has performed admirably on the left side of the Leafs’ fourth line alongside Kampf and Conor Dewar. He’s no longer a liability, as he was for the first three months.
While there is some discussion about whether Reaves should be in the lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs, there is no denying that he is already having a good influence.
In the first period, he set the tone with massive hits on Tampa Bay defencemen Matt Dumba and Hedman.
And Reaves hasn’t been known to take terrible penalties. He has not been summoned for a minor since February 9 and has only taken seven in 44 games.
Reaves easily defeated Tanner Jeannot in a fight early in the third period, knocking the Lightning forward to the ice with a hard right, and Jeannot was finally forced to leave the Tampa dressing room.
If fighting was a requirement for playoff eligibility, Reaves would be in without hesitation. We’ll be eager to see where Keefe lands on Reaves’ spot in Game 1.
“Compared to the beginning of the season, it’s been night and day,” Reaves stated about his personal performance. “It’s what they’ve expected from me all season. I’m glad that’s clicking. I’m delighted the line is clicking. I’m playing more physically. We had our chances in the offensive zone. I’m pleased with it. I hope to keep improving and bring that same energy to the playoffs.”
tkoshan@postmedia.com
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