1. STAMKOS LEADS THE WAY IN HIS HOMETOWN
Games in Toronto are always extra special for Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos.
His hometown of Markham is about 30 minutes away from downtown Toronto. He often has friends and family in the stands.
On Thursday, he put on a show for his fans in attendance.
Stamkos netted just the fourth shorthanded goal of his career and first since March 13, 2016 with his breakaway tally at 5:37 of the second period to level the score 1-1 after Toronto went in front on Mitchell Marner's goal less than five minutes into the game.
On the game-tying goal, Ryan McDonagh collected the rebound off a Toronto shot that bounced off the pads of Vasilevskiy and backhanded a pass up ahead for a wide-open Stamkos.
The Lightning's leading goal scorer knew exactly what to do on the breakaway, gathering McDonagh's pass at the blue line, skating in with time and space on Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen and beating Andersen over the glove with a snap of his wrist.
Stamkos netted his 44th goal of the season.
"He was playing great on both sides. Does it all the time for us but even more tonight playing in his home town," said McDonagh, who earned his 44th point of the season with the assist on Stamkos' shorty to establish a new career high for single season scoring. "He just was a driving force for us, getting momentum on our side again and getting us back in the game and obviously making a great play on the game-winning goal. So great to see him playing with confidence on both sides of the ice."
Stamkos set up the game-winner too with a little less than six minutes remaining.
On the scoring play, Alex Killorn sent a cross-ice feed over to Stamkos inside the blue line. Stamkos had lots of space in front and skated into the lower left circle, where everybody in the building thought he would take the shot.
Stamkos, though, saw a better opportunity for Killorn and backhanded a puck into the upper right circle for Killorn to one-time past Andersen.
"I was at the end of my shift. I just wanted him to go in and shoot it really," Killorn said. "He found me because I think everyone kind of gravitates towards him when he has the puck. He found me, and it was a terrible shot, a change-up, probably why it went in."
With his second point on the night, Stamkos reached the 97-point mark on the season, equaling his career best for single season scoring established previously in 2011-12.
Stamkos will try to set a brand-new career high for scoring Saturday in Boston.
And, hey, while we're at it, why not go for 100 points captain?