Lightning Quick: Leafs lose to Lightning 4-1

Nikita Kucherov danced around Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Reilly and ripped a wrist shot past Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen, and all of the sudden midway through the 2nd period, the life was sucked out of the Air Canada Centre.

Kucherov's marker came 2 minutes and 8 seconds after Nazem Kadri redirected a Mat Hunwick shot past Andrei Vasilevsky to tie the game at 1-1. The 2 minutes and 8 seconds between goals was by far the best stretch of hockey the Leafs played in Thursday's matchup. During that stretch there was a flurry of chances highlighted by a Mitch Marner had breakaway chance that was denied by Vasilevsky. After Kucherov's goal, the Maple Leafs never had the same push as they did during this portion of the game.

The Lightning would carry their 2-1 lead into the 3rd period where goals by Michael Bournival, and Braydon Point's second of the game would put the game out of reach en route to Tampa Bay's 4-1 victory over the Maple Leafs. This was the second time in as many games that the Toronto Maple Leafs allowed four goals in a game.

Following the game, Leafs defenseman Morgan Reilly when asked about the previous two games said

"They're two offensively talented teams, and that's not an excuse [...] it's just a matter of being ready".

Obviously the game against Washington saw the team playing their second game in as many nights, but tonight's matchup featured a rested Leafs team who seemed to be playing keep up with a very fast Lightning team.

"I don't think our last game had anything to do with it, we just came back from a road trip [...] I didn't think we were very good today" said Leafs Head Coach Mike Babcock when asked about the efforts given in the previous two games.

Coach Babcock was right as the Leafs were being out skated for much of Thursday's contest against a quick Lightning team. Tampa Bay coming into tonight was in desperate need of two-points as they trailed the Maple Leafs by five-points entering tonight's matchup. Tampa's win keeps their playoff hopes alive and it postpones the Maple Leafs opportunity to clinch a playoff spot till Saturday. The Lightning are quick to return to action as they have another Canadian matchup tomorrow night, heading to La Belle Province to battle the Montreal Canadiens.

The Maple Leafs did not get any help outside of their matchup tonight either as the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators took their matchup to a shootout where the Senators emerged victorious by a score of 2-1. Thursday night saw the Maple Leafs lose ground to all teams surrounding them in the standings. All will be forgotten if the Maple Leafs can win on Saturday night, but it will not be easy as they battle the 2016 Stanley Cup Champion, Pittsburgh Penguins. Although the Leafs in the playoffs is not yet a sure thing, the next three-days being extremely nerve wracking as a follower of the Toronto Maple Leafs is a certainty.

*** Next Toronto Maple Leafs Game

vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, April 7th (7:00PM)