TAMPA, Fla — The Tampa Bay Lightning took control of Game 4 early on and set the tone for the 7-3 win that tied the series, 2-2, in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Maple Leafs just couldn't get the puck in the net prior to the third period. The Bolts held Toronto to zero goals until the final 20 minutes.
The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been a nail-biter for the Lightning thus far, with a shutout loss in Game 1, a comeback win in Game 2 and another loss in Game 3. Winning Game 4 was exactly what the Lightning needed as they get ready for Game 5 in Toronto.
Statistics were on the Bolts' side this Mother's Day. Over the past three seasons, the Lightning is 16-0 in games after a playoff loss.
Three stars stood out on the Bolts team Sunday night, Victor Hedman had one assist to lock down the first goal in the game; Brandon Hagel had two assists – one in the second period and another in the third; and Pat Maroon had one goal in the first period and five hits.
In addition, Steven Stamkos, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Ross Colton and Corey Perry scored for the Bolts.
RELATED: Lightning vs Maple Leafs: Game 5 locked in for 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round series
Game blog
3rd period - FINAL
⚡ Tampa Bay Lightning 7 | 🍁 Toronto Maple Leafs 3
2:16 Ross Colton scores, assisted by Brandon Hagel and Ryan McDonagh
4:19 Jake Muzzin scores for Toronto Maple Leafs, assisted by TJ Brodie and Colin Blackwell
5:20 Ondrej Palat scores, unassisted
17:33 William Nylander scores for Toronto Maple Leafs, assisted by Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly
End of 2nd period
⚡ Tampa Bay Lightning 5 | 🍁 Toronto Maple Leafs 0
14:35 Corey Perry scores, assisted by Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point
16:43 Colton Ross scores, assisted by Brandon Hagel and Cal Foote
End of 1st period
⚡ Tampa Bay Lightning 3 | 🍁 Toronto Maple Leafs 0
12:02 Pat Maroon scores, assisted by Alex Killorn and Mikhail Sergachev
14:40 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scores, assisted by Corey Perry and Ryan Mcdonagh
19:00 Steven Stamkos with the early goal, assisted by Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman