The Toronto Maple Leafs came out with a vengeance in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a disappointing 7-3 loss in Game 1, the Leafs scored seven goals in a dominant Game 2 performance.
The Leafs were led by an explosive offense, with six different players contributing to the goal-scoring outburst.
The first goal came just 47 seconds into the game, when Mitch Marner tipped in a TJ Brodie point shot on the power play. The Leafs capitalized on the man advantage, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
With seven minutes left in the first period, John Tavares snapped a wrist shot after a pass from Morgan Reilly past Vasilevskiy, extending the Leafs' lead to two.
Just before the first frame was complete, William Nylander sniped a wrist shot over the goalie's shoulder on a delayed penalty, making it 3-0 and giving the Leafs the same lead the Lightning ended the first period with in Game 1.
The Leafs didn't slow down in the second period. With seven minutes left, Tavares added another goal to his tally, making it 4-1 with a backhand off of a rebound.
Zach Aston Reese piled on the misery by whacking the puck over the goal line past Vasilevskiy with five minutes left in the second, putting the Leafs up 5-1.
Marner would add his second goal of the game with a shot into the net from the blue line that went through multiple bodies with two and a half minutes left in the second period. The Leafs had a commanding 6-1 lead heading into the third period.
With five minutes left in the game, John Tavares would capture the first playoff hat trick in 20 years since Alex Migliny.
Toronto Maple Leafs should not be underestimated in the playoffs
The Toronto Maple Leafs' explosive offense was a complete team effort, with four different players scoring goals. The team's top players, Marner, Tavares, and Nylander, all contributed to the offensive outburst, showing that the Leafs have a deep and talented roster.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' dominant victory in Game 2 showed that they are not to be underestimated. After a disappointing loss in Game 1, the team bounced back, proving that they have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the league.