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The Toronto Maple Leafs have another opportunity to move forward in the postseason for the first time in 19 years, as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Saturday. For the Leafs to advance and avoid a deciding Game 7 on Monday, Toronto will have to win for the third time on the road and put forth a more consistent effort than they did in Games 3 and 4.
The Lightning had the territorial advantage in both home games, but could not hold on to a one-goal lead in Game 3, as Ryan O’Reilly tied the contest with one minute left in regulation and Morgan Rielly scored late in the first overtime to give Toronto the lead in the series. Game 4 was a borderline miraculous comeback from three goals down in the final 10 minutes and gave the Leafs a commanding 3-1 lead thanks to Alex Kerfoot’s deflection in overtime.
Toronto could not put Tampa away in front of a hyped-up crowd at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, as they could not build on the momentum of an early Rielly goal, and lost a tactical 4-2 decision to send the series back to Tampa.
In spite of leading in the series, the Leafs have the most pressure on them since they have not been able to finish off series over the last decade, going 0 – 10 in close-out games.
After some notable poor performances in Game 5, head coach Sheldon Keefe appears to be prepared to make some lineup changes for the first time since being forced to when Michael Bunting was suspended and Matthew Knies took his place in Game 2, but would not discuss specifics after an optional skate on Saturday morning.
Following another terrible performance, there are signs that Justin Holl could be scratched in favor of Timothy Liljegren. Per TSN’s Mark Masters, Holl uncharacteristically took part in the optional, while Liljegren did not (which is his normal practice when playing). Holl has been on the ice for 14 of Tampa’s 19 goals and played only 12:33 in Game 5 after being in the ice for all three of the Lightning’s five-on-five goals.
Bunting is likely to make his return, but the question is whether Keefe will insert him in his normal top-line position with Auston Matthews, allowing Calle Jarnkrok to be moved to the second or third line, or whether the feisty forward will replace Sam Lafferty or Zach Aston-Reese on the fourth line.
“I think (Michael) has been great. From the disappointment of getting suspended first of all — and being unavailable and the work that he has put in through that — to how he handled when I told him he was not going to be a part of the lineup coming back, I think he recognizes the situation he and the team are in.” Keefe said. “He has stayed positive and continued to do the work to be ready if called on.”
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