Lightning Advance as Maple Leafs Post Season Futility Continues

Nicholas Paul scored both of Tampa Bay’s goals as the two time defending NHL champion Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on May 14th to win Game 7 of their first round Stanley Cup playoff series and advance to the second round. Paul, who was acquired from Ottawa about 2/3 of the way through the season, had scored 16 goals in 80 games with the Senators and Lightning, scored his first two of the post season in sealing the victory. Tampa Bay’s chance to win three Stanley Cups in a row will next be tested by the Florida Panthers in Round 2.

Toronto, the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference, led the series 3-2, and was ahead in the third period of Game 6 in Tampa 3-2 when Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov scored on a power play to tie the score. The game ended in overtime when Brayden Point scored 1:56 into the extra period. The Leafs then lost Game 7 on their home ice. This continues a string of post season futility for this Original Six franchise, which has won 13 Stanley Cups, but none since the 1966-67 season. The Leafs have not won a post season series since beating Ottawa in a conference quarterfinal in 2003-4; Toronto then lost in the semi finals to Philadelphia.