Lightning crush Maple Leafs 7-3 to take Game 1 in Toronto

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Thousands of fans packed into Maple Leaf Square to cheer on the Leafs, and despite the game one lost, they aren't giving up hope. Michelle Mackey reports.

By Lucas Casaletto

Posted April 18, 2023 10:21 pm.

Last Updated April 19, 2023 6:33 am.

Brayden Point had two goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning easily won Game 1 of their best-of-seven series, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night.

Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists, while veteran winger Corey Perry netted a goal and two assists of his own, including firing seven shots on net. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves in his 100th playoff start.

The Maple Leafs were in a hole early on after Tampa Bay scored three goals in the first period to take a commanding 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Toronto settled down, scoring back-to-back goals in the second to make things interesting. But the Lightning quickly answered, courtesy of a Point power play marker.

Tampa would eventually run away with it, leading to head coach Sheldon Keefe opting to replace starter Ilya Samsonov with backup Joseph Woll to open the third.

In his first playoff start with the Leafs, Samsonov gave up six goals on 23 saves. Ryan O’Reilly, William Nylander and Calle Jarnkrok scored for Toronto, while Mitch Marner added three assists. Auston Matthews had two assists.

“I just need to play better,” Samsonov said postgame. “I played like s*** today.”

Keefe said it’s too soon to determine whether Woll will start Game 2.

Maple Leafs’ Michael Bunting, who started on a top line with Matthews and Marner, was handed a match penalty and was ejected from the game in the second period after he appeared to elbow Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak in the head. Cernak left the game and did not return.

Tampa Bay also saw veteran defenceman Victor Hedman leave the game early with an undisclosed injury, with centre Michael Eyssimont departing with a head injury.

Last year, the Maple Leafs opened the best-of-seven series against the same Lightning with a 5-0 win at Scotiabank Arena. After a fairly evened series, the Lightning would eliminate Toronto in seven games. Led by Kucherov, Hedman, captain Steven Stamkos and Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay has advanced to three-straight Stanley Cup finals, winning twice.

Toronto has not advanced past the first round of the NHL playoffs since 2004.

The Leafs will look to even the series at home in Game 2 on Thursday, live on Sportsnet.