Inspired Maple Leafs dominate Lightning to even series in Game 2

John Tavares had a hat trick as the Toronto Maple Leafs dominated the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-2 to even their best-of-seven series at 1-1.

It’s the first playoff hat trick for the 32-year-old Tavares. Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly had four assists, setting a playoff record for most in a game.

Tavares became the first Maple Leaf with a playoff hat trick since Alexander Mogilny against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2003.

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— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 21, 2023

Mitch Marner scored two goals and added an assist, Auston Matthews had two helpers of his own, and William Nylander had two points, including a goal. Maple Leafs starter Ilya Samsonov picked up the win, stopping 19 of 21 shots.

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

It was a tale of two teams on Thursday after the Maple Leafs fell flat in Game 1, losing 7-3 in an uninspired and uneven performance.

This version of the Maple Leafs showed why they were considered the betting favourite heading into the series, as Toronto came out firing on all cylinders, scoring three first-period goals courtesy of Marner, Tavares and Nylander — similar to what the Lightning did in Game 1.

Tampa Bay would answer in the second period to make it 3-1, but the Leafs would settle down, scoring three straight to take a commanding 6-1 lead. It would get chippy from there, with Luke Schenn and Tanner Jeannot dropping the gloves, followed by Corey Perry and Justin Holl getting into it late in the third period.

Toronto was without left winger Michael Bunting, who was suspended for three games for his hit against Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak. Winger Matthew Knies made his playoff debut in Toronto, using his 6-foot-3 frame to excel along the boards, often standing out on a line with Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari.

Knies played just under 13 minutes, firing two shots on goal with five registered hits.

Tampa Bay was without veteran defenceman Victor Hedman, who sat with an undisclosed injury. Cernak also didn’t play after the Bunting hit in Game 1. Their statuses are unknown for Game 3.

The Maple Leafs will now travel to Tampa Bay for two road games, starting at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, live on Sportsnet.