The Toronto Maple Leafs earned a hard-fought 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday (April 9) to sweep the season series between the two rivals. It was an impressive bounce-back effort from the Maple Leafs following a listless display in a 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday (April 8).
The victory moved the Maple Leafs three points ahead of the Lightning and six points up on the Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division. Toronto has a 48-26-4 record this season, earning the organization’s fourth straight 100-point campaign and tying the Colorado Avalanche for the NHL’s longest active streak.
Knies’ Dominance over Tampa Bay
Matthew Knies has been masterful against the Lightning. He has generated 10 goals and 16 points in nine games, including seven goals and two assists in four appearances this season. After Wednesday’s win, he stated that he’s been doing his best to replace the disappointment of losing the 2023 NCAA National Championship game to Quinnipiac University at Amalie Arena with better memories in the building. He has done a superb job with that goal, and it’s a mindset his teammates should embrace going into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Returning to Wednesday’s performance, Knies lamented the team’s lack of establishing any kind of a forecheck in Tuesday’s loss to the Panthers. The top-line trio of the Maple Leafs were puck hounds in the first period, disrupting the transition game of the Lightning and forcing turnovers to create scoring opportunities. Knies and Auston Matthews did this on Mitch Marner’s icebreaker 1:13 into the match, and they did it again on Knies’ 27th marker of the season just over two minutes later.
Related: Maple Leafs Use Matthew Knies Hat Trick to Down the Lightning in Overtime
Knies gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 lead in the third frame with his fifth power-play tally of 2024-25. Marner quickly snapped the puck on the net after a faceoff win, which John Tavares tipped before Knies cleaned up the rebound in front of the net. The 22-year-old Knies completed his second hat trick of the campaign in overtime after parking himself to the left of Andrei Vasilevskiy and firing a goalmouth pass from Matthews across the line for the game-winner. Knies became the seventh player in franchise history to finish a hat trick in overtime and the first since Mats Sundin accomplished the feat on Oct. 14, 2006, versus the Calgary Flames.
Knies has taken a tremendous step forward offensively in 2024-25, potting 29 goals and adding 26 assists through 74 appearances. He is a pending restricted free agent, and the topic of his next contract will be a fascinating storyline to watch. He has proven to be a valuable power winger, displaying his physicality and scoring ability, and should be an integral piece of the organization’s group for a long time.
Penalty Kill Still Needs Improvement
Since the calendar flipped to 2025, the Maple Leafs rank 29th in the league in penalty kill percentage (73.6), allowing the third-most power-play goals (28). Only the San Jose Sharks (36) and Anaheim Ducks (33) have surrendered more. The Lightning scored twice on four power-play opportunities in Wednesday’s matchup, dropping the Maple Leafs to 31st in the league across four games in April.
Since March 1, Toronto’s power play has been the best in the league (36.4%), but the penalty kill must be better. Tampa Bay’s power play got them back in the game, though some controversial calls by the on-ice officials aided that effort. Still, questionable refereeing will happen, and the players need to come up with more kills when it matters. The penalty kill is an issue that requires solving before the playoffs.
Better Effort, Highlighted by a Fast Start
The Maple Leafs weren’t pleased with their performance versus the Panthers. They didn’t generate much offensively and were put on their heels for most of the game while allowing Florida free reign to attack. However, that script flipped in Wednesday’s performance.
The top line was buzzing early and set the tone by establishing a 2-0 lead. Marner and Matthews bounced back with tremendous showings after they were barely noticeable against the Panthers. Marner had one goal and two helpers versus the Lightning, while Matthews contributed three assists.
The Maple Leafs blocked 33 shots in Wednesday’s victory, which is always a double-edged sword. It’s commendable to take away space and make it easier on the goaltender, but the risk of injury is concerning. Matthews appeared hurt after getting in front of a shot during a Lightning power play in the third period. Fortunately, he returned to the ice for his next shift and remained in the game.
Anthony Stolarz made 25 saves in his sixth consecutive win, including a couple of outstanding stops in overtime. During that stretch, he has a 1.82 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. The 31-year-old netminder is one win away from reaching 20, and he has the inside track to be the team’s No. 1 option going into the playoffs.
What Comes Next for the Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs have four games remaining in the 2024-25 regular-season schedule. The team hosts the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday (April 12) before visiting the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday (April 13). Afterward, Toronto has one more road outing against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday (April 15), followed by the regular-season finale versus the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday (April 17).
The Maple Leafs remain in the driver’s seat for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, which should remain the priority down the home stretch. However, it would greatly benefit the team if the penalty kill made meaningful improvements and additional injuries were avoided.
