Mishkin's Extra Shift: Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 2 - Game 5

This was the third consecutive game in which the Lightning carried play for the majority of the night. But unlike Games Three and Four, they were the team that made more of the key plays at crucial times. As a result, they staved off elimination and extended the series to a Game Six on Saturday at Amalie Arena.

As they have done for much of the past three contests, the Lightning were the better team during five-on-five action. They owned more of the possession, produced more shots and shot attempts, and generated more scoring chances.
They started the game well, spending nearly all of the early minutes applying pressure in the Toronto defensive zone. But the Leafs would score first. On an offensive zone entry, John Tavares broke into the right corner and centered a pass that deflected to an open Morgan Rielly in the slot. Rielly put his shot off the post and in at 5:47.
The Lightning had an immediate response, however. On the very next shift, they brought the puck into the Toronto end. Nick Perbix shot the puck from the point. Ilya Samsonov stopped the shot, but left a rebound. Standing in front of the net, Brandon Hagel couldn't control the puck, but Anthony Cirelli swooped in behind him and chipped the puck into the top of the net. The Toronto lead lasted only 25 seconds.
The Lightning controlled most of the rest of the frame, excluding the two minutes that Toronto went on the power play. That man advantage yielded several scoring chances for the Leafs. Andrei Vasilevskiy made three tough saves (including two in a row on Calle Jarnkrok), then, shortly after the penalty ended, made a final point-blank stop on William Nylander.
The Lightning didn't let Toronto build momentum off that dangerous power play. They pushed back with two strong shifts and eventually received a power play of their own. While they didn't score on it, they posted six shots on net and, like the Leafs, had several close calls.
After leaving Game One due to injury, Mikey Eyssimont returned to the lineup in Game Five. Playing on a line with Nick Paul and Ross Colton, he had an impactful game. He scored off the rush at 4:24 of the second, slipping a bad angle shot through the pads of Samsonov.
The score remained 2-1 through the rest of the period, even though both teams did produce quality looks. Brayden Point hit the post off the rush and Samsonov made an odd-man rush save on Paul. At the other end, Vasilevskiy denied Nylander at the side of the net during a goalmouth scramble.
The Leafs entered the third period with a two-minute power play, looking to tie the score. But the Lightning delivered an excellent kill, posting four shorthanded shots and keeping the Leafs off the board. Three minutes after the penalty ended, Toronto had its best chance to tie the game. Mitch Marner accepted a long outlet pass and had a clean breakaway. Vasilevskiy stopped the shot, preserving the Lightning lead.
Nearly twelve minutes into the third, the Lightning received a crucial insurance goal. From the neutral zone, Eyssimont worked the puck deep into the Toronto end, where Colton tracked it and skated behind the net. He centered a pass to Paul, whose first shot was blocked. But Paul collected the rebound and slid it past Samsonov.
That goal proved to be critical, because Auston Matthews tallied a sixth-attacker goal at 16:27. The Leafs pulled Samsonov again with 3:03 left (after a Lightning icing). But they couldn't find the tying goal. Overall, Vasilevskiy faced six shots during the six-on-five, stopping five of them. Both sides hit a goal post as well (prior to the Matthews tally). With just over 15 seconds remaining, there was a final face-off in the Tampa Bay end. Beginning with the draw after they initially pulled Samsonov, the Leafs had won five consecutive face-offs. But Cirelli won this one, leading to a clear and an empty-netter for Alex Killorn at 19:55.
Even though the Lightning outshot and out-chanced the Leafs, they did yield some prime looks. Isolated looks, but prime looks. Vasilevskiy was terrific in turning those aside. As for the Lightning's offense, they received two goals each from the Cirelli line and the Paul line.
It was a season-saving win for the Lightning. Now they'll need to do it again on Saturday.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Braydon Coburn):
1. Andrei Vasilevskiy - Lightning. 28 saves. 2. Mikey Eyssimont - Lightning. Goal and assist. 3. Anthony Cirelli - Lightning. Goal and assist.