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The Toronto Maple Leafs rebounded to even the best-of-seven series with the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 7-2 victory in Game 2 on Thursday, but as the first-round matchup shifts to Amalie Arena for Game 3 on Saturday, the Leafs must mimic the traits they put forth in Game 2 and less of the discombobulation that they displayed in the series opener.
Unlike Game 1, where Toronto did not start playing with any kind of intensity until they were down two goals in the first period, the Leafs started on time, seized on early power play opportunities, and dropped the hammer on the short-handed Lightning without defensemen Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak with three goals in the middle frame.
Toronto will need a similar performance from their core five of John Tavares, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Morgan Rielly, who combined 14 points while doing their best to limit the Lightning’s top forwards and their power play.
Tampa continues to be successful at riling Toronto and getting underneath their skin, but the Leafs exercised more self-control in Game 2, killing all three of the Lightning’s chances on the man advantage after allowing four power-play goals on eight chances in an undisciplined Game 1.
The three-game suspension of Michael Bunting was just the most glaring example of the entire club not being prepared to show the discipline necessary to achieve victory, and the feisty Leafs forward is almost being used as a scapegoat after the fact for their Game 1’s demise. His act was careless and regrettable, but not predatory and utterly stupid as Nazem Kadri’s hit on Tommy Wingels in 2018.
Perhaps the biggest key to Toronto regaining home-ice advantage in the series is keeping their powder dry and being the initiator rather than the respondent of the usual playoff gamesmanship. Perry has been at the center of this, drawing Jake McCabe and Justin Holl into confrontations, but Patrick Maroon and top forwards like Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Anthony Cirelli have been guilty of post-whistle jabs that the Leafs must ignore.
Cirelli was rocked by Auston Matthews late in the third period and was slow getting to the bench. #Leafshttps://t.co/jQxi1LKZ1l
Toronto is not expected to make any lineup changes, but head coach Sheldon Keefe was non-commital about going with the same lineup on Saturday. Keefe may try to spot the usage of rookie Matthew Knies without the advantage of the last change, but with all of the late-game shenanigans that occurred in Game 2, it is not out of the question that veteran Wayne Simmonds would be inserted to keep things honest.
Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman skated on Saturday morning, but head coach Jon Cooper said that his status for Game 3 will be a game-time decision. Erik Cernak did not participate and will not play. Forward Anthony Cirelli struggled to get to the bench after being hit by Matthews in the third period, and is expected to play.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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