Since these two teams faced each other in the first round of the postseason in 2022 and 2023, it seems like every time they meet in the regular season it’s going to be a close contest.

Overall, the Leafs played a pretty solid game. They defended well, they controlled the pace for a lot of the game and they were able to have strong offensive zone possessions.

Early in the first period, Auston Matthews opened the scoring with a goal off the rush that came from a pass to the middle of the ice from Matthew Knies. Matthews was able to put it through the Tampa goaltender’s five-hole for his 19th of the season, in his 33rd game.

In the second, William Nylander kept his hot streak alive when he scored on another breakaway, this time getting fed from Morgan Rielly. Brandon Hagel made the defensive mistake when he must’ve thought that his own team had possession of the puck.

Not long after, Nick Paul cut the scoring in half with a tip from a point shot from a Tampa defender.

Shortly before the period could end, Matthew Knies picked up his first goal of the game when he snuck behind the Lightning defense, took a pass from Marner, and shot past the Tampa goaltender’s blocker for his 16th of the year.

The eventful third period started off with a Michigan attempt from Auston Matthews, but Jonas Johansson read it well and was able to save it with his chest.

Darren Raddysh picked up his second point of the night when he cut it to 3-2 at 8:07 of the third period, scoring through traffic from the right circle.

On the powerplay, Matthew Knies picked up his second of the night when he collected a Mitch Marner shot, and put it past the stretched-out pad of the Tampa goaltender to restore the two-goal lead. Knies has 31 points in 46 games, and he should reach the 50-point plateau for the first time in his short career.

Nick Paul scored his own second of the night, on a Tampa powerplay off a tip from a shot by Brandon Hagel. Tampa pressured the Leafs late, and due to a goal-line save from Chris Tanev, Mitch Marner was able to score on the empty cage to secure the 5-3 win for the Maple Leafs.

Throughout the full 60 minutes, Toronto played a very solid hockey game. They battled throughout and they were able to come away with a strong win against a tough division rival. Toronto now sits atop the Atlantic division with a 5 point lead over Florida, and they’re currently tied for third in the entire league, beside the Vegas Golden Knights.