Surprised by a vaccine mandate that left him unable to play for much of last season, Kyrie Irving described himself as a “martyr” for refusing the COVID-19 shot while facing heavy scrutiny. 533 more words
He’s been called everything from Batman (by himself) to a mini Al Horford (Ime Udoka), and based on how he has guarded Giannis Antetokounmpo and helped bail out the Celtics’ offense in Game 2, Grant Williams has provided some much-needed clout off the Celtics bench. 777 more words
. 2022 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Monday, May 2, 7:30 pm, Toronto vs. Tampa Bay Wednesday, May 4, 7:30 pm, Toronto vs. Tampa Bay Friday, May 6, 7:30 pm, Toronto at Tampa Bay Sunday, May 8, 7:00 pm, Toronto at Tampa Bay Tuesday, May 10, Toronto vs. Tampa Bay (TBD)* Thursday, May 12, Toronto at Tampa Bay (TBD)* Saturday, May 14, Toronto vs. Tampa Bay (TBD)* *If Necessary INJURY REPORT Michael Bunting (Undisclosed) Petr Mrazek (Groin) Rasmus Sandin (Knee) THE SERIES SERIES RECORD vs. TAMPA BAY: 1-0 ALL-TIME POSTSEASON RECORD vs. TAMPA BAY: 1-0 ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON RECORD vs. TAMPA BAY: 58-37-2-7 (HOME: 30-19-1-3/ROAD: 28-18-1-4) LAST GAME 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RESULTS: The Maple Leafs went 2-2-0 in four games against Tampa Bay during the 2021-22 season. Toronto was 1-1-0 in two games played on home ice and held a 1-1-0 record in two games in Tampa Bay. LEADING SCORERS Toronto: Matthews (3-4-7), Marner (1-4-5), Tavares (1-2-3) Tampa Bay: Stamkos (2-7-9), Palat (3-3-6), Killorn (2-3-5) GOALTENDERS Toronto: Campbell (2-1-0; 2.33 GAA; .918 SV%), Kallgren (0-1-0; 8.02 GAA, 778 SV%) Tampa Bay: Vasilevskiy (2-1-1; 2.97 GAA; 919 SV%) Toronto Maple Leafs: Media Notes Score: Toronto 5 vs. Tampa Bay 0 Date: Monday, May 2, 2022 TOR Goals: Muzzin, Matthews (2x), Kämpf, Marner TBL Goals: – TOR Goaltender: Campbell, 24/24, 1.000 SV% TBL Goaltender: Vasilevskiy, 27/32, .848 SV% TOR Power Play: 1-for-6 TOR Penalty Kill: 5-for-5 Team Notes:
Both Auston Matthews (2G, 1A) and Mitch Marner (1G, 2A) recorded three points during Monday’s Game One win. Matthews and Marner tied single-game NHL playoff career-highs.
David Kämpf scored shorthanded in Monday’s win. This marked the second shorthanded goal of Kämpf’s postseason career. Per NHL Stats, Kämpf became the eighth player to have each of his first two career playoff goals come shorthanded (since 1933-34).
Jack Campbell stopped 24 of 24 shots in Monday’s win. Campbell recorded the second shutout of his NHL playoff career, with his first dating back to May 25, 2021 at MTL.
Colin Blackwell, Timothy Liljegren and Ilya Lyubushkin made their Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, May 2 vs. TBL. MAPLE LEAFS CAREER LEADERS vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: Games Played: Jason Spezza (51) Goals: Jason Spezza (23) Assists: Jason Spezza (34) Points: Jason Spezza (57) Penalty Minutes: Wayne Simmonds (92) TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING CAREER LEADERS vs. MAPLE LEAFS: Games Played: Steven Stamkos (45) Goals: Steven Stamkos (22) Assists: Steven Stamkos (36) Points: Steven Stamkos (58) Penalty Minutes: Pat Maroon (38) TORONTO ACTIVE PLAYOFF GAME LEADERS 1) Jason Spezza – 92 GP 2) Jake Muzzin – 66 GP 3) Kyle Clifford – 65 GP TORONTO ACTIVE PLAYOFF GOAL LEADERS 1) Jason Spezza – 28 (92 GP) t-2) John Tavares – 15 (38 GP) t-2) Auston Matthews – 15 (33 GP) TORONTO ACTIVE PLAYOFF ASSIST LEADERS 1) Jason Spezza – 47 (92 GP) 2) Mitch Marner – 22 (33 GP) 3) Morgan Rielly – 17 (33 GP) TORONTO ACTIVE PLAYOFF POINTS LEADERS 1) Jason Spezza – 75 (92 GP) 2) John Tavares – 31 (38 GP) 3) Mitch Marner – 28 (33 GP) MAPLE LEAFS POSTSEASON HISTORY
The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs mark the Maple Leafs’ 71st appearance in the postseason.
The Maple Leafs are playing in their 114th Stanley Cup Playoffs series.
Toronto has a record of 262-288-4 in 554 postseason games for the franchise. TORONTO ALL-TIME PLAYOFF GOAL LEADERS 1) Wendel Clark – 34 (79 GP) t-2) Mats Sundin – 32 (77 GP) t-2) Dave Keon – 32 (89 GP) 4) Ted Kennedy – 29 (78 GP) t-5) Steve Thomas – 26 (63 GP) t-5) George Armstrong – 26 (110 GP) TORONTO ALL-TIME PLAYOFF ASSIST LEADERS 1) Doug Gilmour – 60 (52 GP) 2) Darryl Sittler – 40 (64 GP) t-3) Red Kelly – 38 (70 GP) t-3) Mats Sundin – 38 (77 GP) 5) Borje Salming – 37 (81 GP) TORONTO ALL-TIME PLAYOFF SCORING LEADERS 1) Doug Gilmour – 77 (52 GP) 2) Mats Sundin – 70 (77 GP) 3) Dave Keon – 67 (89 GP) 4) Darryl Sittler – 65 (64 GP) 5) Wendel Clark – 61 (79 GP)
ON THE POWER PLAY
Power Play: 63/231 (27.3%) Power Play Goal Leader: 16 – Matthews Power Play Point Leader: 31 – Nylander (13G, 18A) 2020-21 Power Play: 31/155 (20.0%) ON THE PK, 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON LEADERS 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON GAME HIGHS Penalty Kill: 192/234 (82.1%) Shorthanded Goal Leader: 4 – Mikheyev Shorthanded Point Leader: 4 – Mikheyev (4G), Kämpf (2G, 2A), Marner (3G, 1A) 2020-21 Penalty Kill: 113/144 (78.5%) CATEGORY LEADER CATEGORY LEADER GOALS 60 – Matthews HITS 148 – Simmonds ASSISTS 62 – Marner BLOCKED SHOTS 106 – Brodie POINTS 106 – Matthews (60G, 46A) TAKEAWAYS 92 – Matthews POWER PLAY POINTS 31 – Nylander (13G, 18A) TOI PER GAME 23:44 – Rielly SHORTHANDED POINTS 4 – Kämpf (2G, 2A), Mikheyev (4G), Marner (3G, 1A) PP TOI PER GAME 3:06 – Marner, Matthews PIMs 96 – Simmonds SH TOI PER GAME 2:36 – Muzzin SHOTS 348 – Matthews WINS 31 – Campbell FACEOFF% 60.6% – Tavares GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE 2.64 – Campbell 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % 59.71% – Matthews SAVE PERCENTAGE .914 – Campbell CATEGORY HOME ROAD Most Goals, Game 3 – Matthews, Dec. 1 vs. COL, Jan. 31 vs. NJD, March 8 vs. SEA 4 – Marner, Feb. 26 at DET Most Assists, Game 4 – Rielly, Dec. 7 vs. CBJ 4 – Bunting, Feb. 26 at DET Most Points, Game 4 – Marner, Nov. 6 vs. BOS, (1G, 3A) – Rielly, Dec. 7 vs. CBJ (4A) – Matthews, Jan. 31 vs. NJD (3G, 1A) 6 – Marner, Feb. 26 at DET (4G, 2A) Most Shots, Game 8 – Matthews, Oct. 18 vs. NYR, Nov. 12 vs. CGY, Dec. 1 vs. COL, March 5 vs. VAN – Mikheyev, March 15 vs. DAL 12 – Matthews, April 7 at DAL Time on Ice, Game 27:58 – Rielly, Jan. 26 vs. ANA 27:41 – Rielly, Jan. 15 at STL Most Saves, Game 45 – Campbell, Feb. 18 vs. PIT 44 – Campbell, Jan. 8 at COL CATEGORY GAME PERIOD Most Goals, For 10 – Feb. 26 at DET 5 – 3rd, Jan. 29 at DET Most Goals, Against 8 – Apr. 21 at TBL 5 – 3rd, Feb. 26 at DET Most Shots, For 53 – Feb. 12 at VAN 25 – 3rd, Oct. 14 at OTT Most Shots, Against 49 – Jan. 8 at COL, April 5 at FLA 23 – 3rd, Nov. 6 vs. BOS Fewest Shots, For 18 – Jan. 11 at VGK 2 – 3rd, Jan. 11 at VGK Fewest Shots, Against 18 – Jan. 12 at ARI, Mar. 26 at MTL, April 7 at DAL 2 – 2nd, Oct. 18 vs. NYR – 3rd, Jan. 31 vs. NJD
LIGHTNING
LAST GAME Lightning 0 at Toronto 5 Tampa Bay lost its 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs opener, falling 5-0 at Toronto in Game 1 of a First Round series…The Lightning and Maple Leafs met each other for the first time in a playoff game…Tampa Bay was shut out for the 15th time in a playoff game in franchise history and the first time since Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Final vs. Washington…Toronto netted the opening goal of the First Round series at 18:19, Jake Muzzin sending a shot through traffic into the back of the net to give Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead…Auston Matthews netted a power-play goal at 6:18 of the second to increase the Leafs’ lead to 2-0…David Kampf scored shorthanded at 9:27 of the second to make it 3-0 Toronto…The Maple Leafs took a 4-0 lead when Mitchell Marner scored at 16:39 of the second…Auston Matthews scored his second goal of the game at 8:16 of the third period for the 5-0 final…Andrei Vasilevskiy surrendered five goals on 33 shots in defeat…The Lightning suffered their largest margin of defeat in the postseason under head coach Jon Cooper and tied for the largest playoff margin of defeat in franchise history (also: 6-1 loss in Game 6 of Eastern Conference Quarterfinal vs. PHI Apr. 27, 1996). PP: TBL – 0-5 TOR – 1-6 SOG: TBL – 24 TOR – 33 Attendance: 19,338 TONIGHT’S MATCHUP The Lightning and the Maple Leafs are playing Game 2 of their best-of-seven First Round series in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs…Tampa Bay has won its last seven Game 2s and is 22-10 all-time in Game 2s…The Bolts are 9-3 all-time in road Game 2s…Tampa Bay was a perfect 15-0 in games following a loss over its back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 (includes 2020 Stanley Cup round robin games plus a win in the opening 2020 round robin game following a loss to Columbus in the 2019 First Round) and holds the NHL record for consecutive wins in the playoffs following a loss, four more wins than the next highest mark of 11 set by Montreal from Apr. 11, 1985 to May 18, 1986. TONIGHT’S STORYLINES The Lightning have been shut out four times in franchise history in a series opener following their Game 1 loss at Toronto but have rallied to win two of those previous three series: Tampa Bay lost 3-0 at Pittsburgh in Game 1 of a 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal and won the series in seven games; the Bolts were blanked 3-0 vs. Washington in Game 1 of a 2003 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal and won the series in six games…Tampa Bay is 10-8 all-time in a playoff series when losing Game 1 with wins in its last three such instances, all three coming during its back-to-back Stanley Cup championships (lost Game 1 of 2020 Eastern Conference Semifinal vs. BOS, came back to win the series in five games; lost Game 1 of 2020 Stanley Cup Final vs. DAL, came back to win the series in six games; lost Game 1 of 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinal vs. NYI, came back to win the series in seven games)…The Lightning are 13-5 all-time in Game 2s when suffering a Game 1 loss, including an 8-3 mark under head coach Jon Cooper. INJURIES 2021-22 Reg. Season Man Games Lost: 185 2022 Playoffs Man Games Lost: 0 Current injuries None TRANSACTIONS Apr. 30 – Recalled F Riley Nash from AHL Syracuse Apr. 15 – Re-signed G Brian Elliott to a one-year contract through the 2022-23 season STAMMER TIME Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos ranks fifth in Lightning franchise history for playoff scoring (72 pts.) and sixth for goals (32)…Stamkos needs one goal to move past Tyler Johnson and tie Martin St. Louis for fifth place among the Bolts’ all-time leading playoff goal scorers. TBL ALL-TIME LEADING PLAYOFF GOAL SCORERS
Alex Killorn – 34 goals (112 GP)
Martin St. Louis – 33 goals (63 GP) T-6. Steven Stamkos – 32 goals (95 GP) T-6. Tyler Johnson – 32 goals (116 GP)
Vincent Lecavalier – 24 goals (63 GP) Stamkos set career highs for assists (64) and scoring (106 pts.) in the 2021-22 regular season and produced just the fifth 100-point season in Lightning history, joining Nikita Kucherov (2x), Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier as Bolts to register 100 points in a season…Stamkos scored 42 goals in 2021-22, boosted by a hat trick in the regular season finale Apr. 29 at NYI, to record his franchise-most sixth season with 40+ goals…Stamkos paced the Tampa Bay Lightning: Media Notes Lightning for goals (T-9th in NHL), scoring (T-6th in NHL), power-play goals (T-3rd in NHL) and game-winning goals (T-1st in NHL) in the regular season ANDREI THE GIANT Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28-of-33 shots in a loss Game 1 at TOR, his first defeat since Apr. 19 (27-of-31 saves in 4-3 loss vs. DET) after finishing the 2021-22 regular season on a four-game win streak…Vasilevskiy needs one win to record his 50th career playoff victory and become the 22nd goalie all-time in the NHL and fifth active goalie to reach the milestone…Since entering the NHL in 2014-15, Vasilevskiy has more playoff victories than any other NHL goalie by a sizable margin. NHL POSTSEASON WINS LEADERS SINCE 2015 PLAYOFFS
Andrei Vasilevskiy – 49 wins (77 GS)
Braden Holtby – 40 wins (75 GS)
Marc-Andre Fleury – 38 wins (69 GS) HED OF THE CLASS Bolts defenseman Victor Hedman established career highs for goals (20), assists (65) and scoring (85) in the 2021-22 regular season and set franchise marks for assists and scoring by a defenseman…Hedman recorded just the second 20-goal season by a Lightning defenseman all-time, joining Dan Boyle, who netted 20 goals in 2006-07…Hedman paced all Lightning skaters for assists and ranked eighth among all NHL skaters in the regular season…Hedman posted an assist in the final eight games of the regular season (1-16–17 pts.) for the longest assist streak and also the longest point streak of his career…Hedman finished the regular season ranked third among NHL defensemen for scoring behind only Roman Josi (23-73–96 pts.) and Cale Makar (28-58–86 pts.)…Since entering the NHL in 2009-10, Hedman ranks first among all NHL defensemen for playoff scoring. NHL PLAYOFF DEFENSEMAN SCORING LEADERS SINCE 2010 PLAYOFFS
Victor Hedman – 19-69–88 pts. (133 GP)
Duncan Keith – 18-63–81 pts. (119 GP)
Kris Letang – 18-54–72 pts. (104 GP) Hedman ranks 20th all-time in the NHL for playoff scoring among defensemen and can tie Sandis Ozolinsh (90 pts.) and Sergei Gonchar (90 pts.) for 18th place with two more points and can tie Bobby Orr (94 pts.) for 17th place with four more points…Hedman ranks second all-time in the NHL for playoff scoring among Swedish defensemen and trails only Nicklas Lidstrom (54-129–183 pts. in 263 GP). PUTTING UP PALAT OF POINTS Lightning forward Ondrej Palat skated in his 116th career playoff game in Game 1 at TOR to pull into a tie with Tyler Johnson for the second-most playoff games played in franchise history and will take over sole possession of second place with his next game. TBL ALL-TIME PLAYOFF GAMES PLAYED LEADERS
Victor Hedman – 133 games T-2. Ondrej Palat – 116 games T-2. Tyler Johnson – 116 games
Nikita Kucherov – 114 games Palat skated in 77 games during the 2021-22 regular season, the second most in a season for his career and most since logging a career-high 81 games during his rookie season in 2013-14…Palat scored 18 goals in 2021-22, the second most in a season for his career…Of Palat’s 18 goals, 15 were scored prior to Jan. 12. MAC TRUCK Bolts defenseman Ryan McDonagh has qualified for the playoffs every season in his 12-year career and leads the NHL for playoff games played since entering the League in 2010-11. NHL PLAYOFF GAMES PLAYED LEADERS SINCE 2011 PLAYOFFS
Ryan McDonagh – 163 games played
Carl Hagelin – 141 games played T-3. Victor Hedman – 133 games played T-3. Brad Marchand – 133 games played McDonagh blocked a team-high five shots in Game 1 at TOR and has now blocked 366 shots for his playoff career, ranking second all-time in the NHL. • • NHL PLAYOFF ALL-TIME BLOCKED SHOTS LEADERS
Dan Girardi – 383 blocked shots (143 GP)
Ryan McDonagh – 366 blocked shots (163 GP)
Brooks Orpik – 349 blocked shots (156 GP) IN THE NIK OF TIME Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov became the sixth different player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to lead the Stanley Cup Playoffs in points in consecutive years (outright or tied) after posting 8-24–32 pts. in the 2021 Playoffs, joining Wayne Gretzky, Guy Lafleur, Mario Lemieux, Rick MacLeish and Phil Esposito…Kucherov was just the third player to record 30-plus points in consecutive playoff years (7-27–34 pts. in 25 GP in 2020, 8- 24–32 pts. in 23 GP in 2021), joining Mario Lemieux (1991-1992) and Wayne Gretzky (1983-1985 &1987-1988)…Kucherov’s combined 66 points over the 2020 and 2021 postseasons trailed only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux for total points across two consecutive playoff years…Wayne Gretzky (60 from 1987-1988 and 52 from 1984-1985) is the only player to record more assists than Kucherov (51) across two postseasons. MILESTONES Ondrej Palat (9 career playoff GWGs) can pass Tyler Johnson and take sole possession of first place among TBL’s all-time playoff game-winning goal leaders with his next game-winning goal Pat Maroon will play in his 50th career playoff game with Tampa Bay his next game NOTEWORTHY The Lightning are 107-79 all-time in the postseason, their .575 playoff point percentage ranking fourth among all NHL franchises behind only Edmonton (.586), Montreal (.577) and Vegas (.576)…Of Tampa Bay’s top 10 all-time playoff scoring leaders, six players — Nikita Kucherov (1st – 127 pts.), Victor Hedman (2nd – 88 pts.), Ondrej Palat (T-3rd – 73 pts.), Brayden Point (T-3rd – 73 pts.), Steven Stamkos (5th – 72 pts.) and Alex Killorn (T-6th – 68 pts.) — are on the current squad
The view from left field 