The Maple Leafs' anticipated post-Olympic surge hit a snag right out of the gate.
Their return to action against division leaders Tampa Bay was as challenging as expected. The Lightning, bolstered by Brayden Point's return from injury and Nikita Kucherov's continued brilliance, were further motivated by the recent loss of their coach Jon Cooper's father.
Had William Nylander capitalized on one of his two early breakaways, the Leafs might have shifted the momentum against a team that quickly regained its dominant form (19-1-1 record). However, Tampa Bay's goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was up to the task, expertly handling Nylander's attempts, contributing to the Lightning's 4-2 win on Wednesday.
Toronto managed some late-game excitement with John Tavares scoring on a 6-on-4 advantage after Anthony Stolarz was pulled and Jake Guentzel narrowly missed an empty net. Brayden Point quickly responded with his second goal, but Matthew Knies kept it close with another for the Leafs.
The Leafs aimed to chip away at their six-point playoff deficit, but with 24 games left and several teams to leapfrog, they need to regroup quickly. Their next opportunity comes Thursday against the Florida Panthers, part of a hectic stretch of three games in four nights.
Auston Matthews, fresh off a gold medal win as captain of Team USA in Milan, logged over 20 minutes on the ice. Though he didn't register a shot until the third period, he contributed by blocking three shots, drawing a penalty, and assisting on Knies' goal. Coach Craig Berube adjusted the lines, pairing Matthews with Nylander and later with left winger Knies as the Leafs tried to rally.
Both teams’ Olympians had to match the energy of teammates who enjoyed a two-week break, resulting in a fast-paced first period. Toronto's video team, Jordan Bean and Sam Kim, successfully challenged two offside calls, negating goals by Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov.