A Net Point for the Leafs, Eh

Tampa, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning took on the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this evening at 401 Channelside Drive.  Valtteri Filppula was front and center as he won the opening face-off, he missed the game last night due to a missed meeting.

The Maple Leafs came into tonight trailing the Lightning by two points in the Atlantic Division and an adrenaline push for the Lightning off the comeback win over Montreal would be nice to come out of the contest up four points.

Not the case hockey fans, the Maple Leafs off their own game last night in South Florida, a 3-2 shootout win over the Panthers were the team pushing the play in the first.   The Leafs pounded Andrei Vasilevskiy with 12 shots with finding the back of the net, a five holer by phenom Austin Matthews.  It was the rookie’s 18th of the season and the visiting Leaf faithful roared in delight.

The Leaf would open a two goal lead in the second on a goal by Tyler Bozak and the Leafs fans once again flexed their vocal muscles.  But not so fast… the dreaded old two goal lead.

And of course 8:12 later it’s 2-2.  The Lightning get unanswered goals from Brian Boyle and Ondrej Palat at 12:12 and 17:38 respectively and the “Oil Can” (our affectionate name for Amaile Arena) was jumping and the hometown Bolts fans made it clear whose home it was.

The third period opened at two goals a piece and ended that way.  The Leafs had to stave off a late power play when Zach Hyamn took a tripping call with 2:50 left to play in regulation.

The 3 on 3 OVERTIME

The Leafs got their own power play chance when Valtteri Filppula plowed into Toronto netminder Antoine Bibeau.  The call was “Tough to swallow,” as Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game.  He added that he could not understand how both guys were not called as Filppula appeared to be hooked.  Nazem Kadri ended the party with the power play talley just 1:36 later sending the Leafs fans cheering.

The Leafs net a point and leave Florida with four points and only one behind Tampa Bay in the Atlantic.

The Bolts pick up the home stand New Year’s Eve at 7pm vs Carolina.

Listen to the Rocket Sports & Entertainment Network Show Mondays 1pm ET as The Hockey Hottie and I break it down and argue sometimes too.

Follow me on Twitter:  @RocketSportsEnt

1st Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	TOR	TB
14:46		Auston Matthews (18) Assist: Zach Hyman	1	0
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
5:31		2 Minute Bench Penalty for Too Many Men on the Ice (Served by Mitch Marner)
9:25		Brian Boyle: 2 Minutes for Holding
11:41		Nikita Zaitsev: 2 Minutes for Holding
16:49		Nazem Kadri: 2 Minutes for Slashing
19:58		Andrej Sustr: 2 Minutes for Interference
2nd Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	TOR	TB
9:26		Tyler Bozak (7) Assists: James van Riemsdyk, Nikita Zaitsev	2	0
12:12		Brian Boyle (9) Assists: Jonathan Drouin, Andrej Sustr	2	1
17:38		Ondrej Palat (6) Assist: Nikita Kucherov	2	2
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
2:03		Anton Stralman: 2 Minutes for Hooking
13:28		Nikita Zaitsev: 2 Minutes for Holding
18:31		Braydon Coburn: 2 Minutes for Hooking
3rd Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	TOR	TB
No scoring this period			2	2
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
17:10		Zach Hyman: 2 Minutes for Tripping
OT Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	TOR	TB
3:37		Nazem Kadri (13) (Power Play) Assists: William Nylander, Auston Matthews	3	2
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
2:01		Valtteri Filppula: 2 Minutes for Goalkeeper Interference