Mishkin's Extra Shift: Maple Leafs 2, Lightning 1 - OT

This one leaves a sour taste. The Lightning were within a minute of securing a regulation win. In overtime, they were 14 seconds away from getting through a penalty kill. But the Leafs converted on both the six-on-five (with the goalie pulled) and the four-on-three overtime power play to rally and grab two points. Still, the Lightning earned a point and, at the end of their first 10-game segment of the season, they have amassed 12 points. Seven of those points have come in their last four games.

The Lightning's best period was the first. Even though shots were even, 9-9, the Lightning created more scoring chances. In the early minutes, many of those looks didn't result in a shot on net, however, Anthony Cirelli missed the net on an in-alone chance, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare rang a shot off the post, and Ondrej Palat missed an open net on his own rebound, putting his second shot off the side of the net. The Lightning did cash in for the only goal of the frame, however, when Corey Perry and Pat Maroon converted on a two-on-one rush. It came after an icing against the Lightning. Toronto won the ensuing offensive zone faceoff, but when defenseman Jake Muzzin pinched to the left circle and centered a pass, Erik Cernak blocked it and Muzzin was caught low in the offensive zone. Perry and Maroon countered on the odd-man rush. Even though they were at the end of their shift, they kept ahead of the chasing Leafs. Perry delivered a pass to Maroon, who finished his shot from the left circle inside the short side post.
With just over two minutes left in the first, the Lightning were called for two separate penalties on the same play, leading to a full two-minute five-on-three Toronto power play. The Lightning did an excellent job of taking away shooting lanes for the Leafs during the long kill. They also cleared the puck twice down the ice. In all, the Leafs managed just one shot on goal during the entire two-minute power play.
Toronto's best - and perhaps only - scoring chance in the first came on a point blank look for Michael Bunting. But in the second, the Leafs created many more opportunities than they had in the opening frame. The Lightning weren't as crisp in their puck management, which led to several long defensive zone shifts. The Leafs did well to keep applying pressure and not allowing the Lightning to get tired players off the ice. Andrei Vasilevskiy faced 13 second period shots, many of which were dangerous. He stopped them all, however, keeping the Lightning up by a goal after 40 minutes.
In the third, the Leafs continued to have more possession than the Lightning, but didn't generate nearly as many good looks as they had in the previous period. Instead, it was the Lightning with the better chances. The Lightning posted eight third period shots, including breakaways/open looks for Brayden Point, Mathieu Jospeh, and Steven Stamkos. Toronto goalie Jack Campbell provided his team with crucial saves, preventing the Lightning from adding to their lead.
Then, in the final minute, the Lightning committed a costly mistake that led to the tying goal. With Campbell on the bench for an extra attacker, the Leafs worked the puck deep into the Lightning's end. Victor Hedman got control of the puck and looked to clear it. He attempted to loft it high in the air. But he didn't get the puck high enough. John Tavares gloved it down, passed it to Auston Matthews, and skated to the front of the net. He received a feed from Mitch Marner and one-timed the puck into the top of the net.
In overtime, Tavares received a stretch pass after the Lightning lost the puck and had their three players deep in the offensive zone. Hedman hustled back, trying to disrupt Tavares' breakaway attempt. Vasilevskiy swatted the puck away from Tavares, but Hedman was whistled for slashing. As time was winding down on the penalty, Vasilevskiy made a save Tavares, but couldn't corral the rebound. Neither could the three penalty killers. Soon after, Marner had a shot blocked. But again, the puck eluded Lightning sticks. So the Leafs maintained possession and seconds later, William Nylander fired home a one-timer from the left circle.
There's no way to erase the fact that this was a disappointing finish. But the Lightning will bank their point and look to finish the trip with a better result when they visit Ottawa on Saturday afternoon.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game:
1. Jack Campbell - Maple Leafs. 24 saves.
2. Andrei Vasilevskiy - Lightning. 32 saves.
3. John Tavares - Maple Leafs. Goal.