Final
High-octane Leafs blow away Lightning
Nov 23, 2011 - 5:35 AM Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Tyler Bozak had two goals and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs ran away with a 7-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.Clarke MacArthur, Tim Connolly, Joe Colborne, Joffrey Lupul and Joey Crabb also lit the lamp for Toronto, which matched a season high for goals in one contest and for largest margin of victory. The Leafs also recorded a 7-1 victory against Washington on Saturday.
Jonas Gustavsson made 27 saves in the win.
"The guys work hard out there every night and we were rewarded with that tonight," said MacArthur. "It's always nice to contribute in a game, especially a win."
Vincent Lecavalier notched the lone goal for the Lightning, losers in four of their last five.
"We started the game really good," said Lecavalier. "But our penalties placed us in a bad spot and things turned on us pretty quick."
Dwayne Roloson started in net for Tampa Bay but was pulled in the third period after allowing six goals on 21 shots. Mathieu Garon stopped 4-of-5 shots the rest of the way.
Toronto struck first just 41 seconds into the first when Jake Gardiner's slap shot from the left point was directed by MacArthur in front of the net and past Roloson's glove.
Lecavalier knotted the game at one at the 8:38 mark when his one-timer from inside the right circle bounced off the left pad of Gustavsson and snuck inside the post.
But the visitors took advantage of a breakdown in discipline by the hosts to take a 3-1 lead into the break.
First, after Victor Hedman was given a double minor for high sticking, Connolly redirected a Nikolai Kulemin pass in front of the net past Roloson on the front end of the advantage at 17:56.
Then, after Pavel Kubina was whistled for interference, Bozak netted his first goal of the contest on the 5-on-3 by hammering his own rebound into the twine at 19:22.
The score remained that way until Matt Frattin chipped the puck to himself over a defender at the Tampa Bay blue line and sent a pass from the corner to the front of the net, where Colborne tipped it home with 2:15 to play in the second.
Early in the third, Roloson sent a puck behind the net -- but right to Bozak -- and he wrapped it into the open net at 3:07. Lupul's hard wrister sailed into the top-right corner 1:21 later, knocking Roloson from the game.
Crabb stuffed a rebound past Garon with 5:32 left in regulation to account for the final score.
Game Notes
The six-goal margin was the largest for the Leafs against the Lightning in Tampa, eclipsing a 6-1 victory on January 21, 1993...Tampa Bay fell to 6-3-0 at home this season, while Toronto improved to 6-5-0 on the road...The Maple Leafs snapped a three-game losing streak at St. Pete Times Forum...Connolly and Frattin each had two assists.
- TORONTO: 7
TAMPA BAY: 1
Final
Nov 22 10:03 PM - TORONTO: 4
TAMPA BAY: 1
End of 2nd
Nov 22 9:11 PM - TORONTO: 3
TAMPA BAY: 1
End of 1st
Nov 22 8:15 PM - Toronto Power-Play Goal - Tim Connolly (3), from Nikolai Kulemin and Cody Franson at 17:56.
Maple Leafs 2, Lightning 1 1st - 2:04Nov 22 8:11 PM - Tampa Bay Power-Play Goal - Vincent Lecavalier (9), from Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone at 8:38.
Maple Leafs 1, Lightning 1 1st - 11:22Nov 22 7:53 PM - TORONTO: 0
TAMPA BAY: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Nov 22 7:39 PM
Related News
- It’s not an ending, it’s a new beginning Mar 30
- A new home awaits Mar 30
- Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning Preview and Game Day Thread Mar 30
- Lightning Round: peering over at the rampant wild card race Mar 30
- FTB: An all American OHL afternoon Mar 30
- GDT: Panthers @ Maple Leafs Mar 29
- Preview: Leafs host Panthers Mar 29
- Lightning Round: can the Bolts catch Toronto? Mar 29
- Wednesday FTB: on O’Reilly, Bunting, Liljegren, and more Mar 29
- Tampa Bay Lightning Recap: Bolts get clean win over Carolina Mar 28
- Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes Preview and Game Day Thread Mar 28
- Solar Bears Den: Still in It! Mar 28