Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs: Game 5 (Toronto leads 3-1)
Time: 7:00 P.M.
Location: Scotiabank Arena
Broadcast/Streaming: BSSUN, TBS, CBC, SN, TVAS
Opponent’s Site: Pension Plan Puppets
DraftKings Line:
This is it. Hopefully not the last one of the season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning had two days off between Game 4’s game in Tampa and Game 5 in Toronto. They chose to stay in Tampa Bay for those days – with home ice and home cooking to help them – before travelling on Wednesday (yesterday).
the #Bolts will practice here at Amalie Arena before flying to Toronto for Game 5 on Thursday pic.twitter.com/3ccm4YIyd5
— Gabby Shirley (@Gabby_Shirley_) April 26, 2023
The Lightning also didn’t practice on Tuesday following their OT loss to the Leafs. They had one practice before flying out on Wednesday and will have a morning skate in Toronto today. The lines from Wednesday morning are below, no changes to the lineup. Michael Eyssimont and Haydn Fleury were drawing in on rushes as Eyssimont works his way back to health. It’s possible the Lightning go 11/7 tonight. We’ll keep you updated on those developments.
Andrei Vasilevskiy spoke to the media yesterday (your move, Samsonov) and talked about the recent chatter around the Leafs new approach to beating him. Clearly something has been working because the Leafs have averaged nearly 5 goals a game on Vasy. You can read more on what sparked this discussion in our Lightning Round from this morning.
Vasilevskiy on #LeafsForever attacking him differently: “Last year they they were trying to play more of a skill game. I'm not sure done something different or we just aren’t doing as good job as last year as a team in front, but I think last year they played more skill hockey.”
— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) April 26, 2023
Someone get this man x-ray glasses!
Rule Check: There's nothing in the rulebook expressly prohibiting x-ray glasses, provided they don't fall under 'dangerous equipment' (Rule 9.8). At least three players (Al Arbour, Hal Laycoe, and Dan Lambert) have worn glasses on the ice… https://t.co/In89DdpyyA pic.twitter.com/Xm9GVHwXFy
— x – Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) April 26, 2023
Here’s what Cooper had to say during his availability. He showed optimism and the chance to update the team’s mindset now that elimination is on their horizon. By definition, the Lightning have only lost one elimination game in the past three seasons.
Jon Cooper on practice: “I liked everything about today. The guys had pop. They had jump in their step. I think that day off did us well. Like I said, we are not going to win a series in our next game. We just need to win one game and we’ve done that ample times this year”
— Gabby Shirley (@Gabby_Shirley_) April 26, 2023
Cooper on what the #Bolts can build on: “If we're sitting here, we're down 3-1, and we've been tattooed all series, well, now, you're in a whole different mindset but we haven't felt that way. That's something to build on but, again, you can't leave anything to chance now”
— Gabby Shirley (@Gabby_Shirley_) April 26, 2023
Cooper on many of the #Bolts players contributing offensively: pic.twitter.com/oteKbBobCZ
— Gabby Shirley (@Gabby_Shirley_) April 26, 2023
On the Toronto side, Michael Bunting is eligible to return to the Leafs lineup after serving his three-game suspension that knocked Erik Cernak (at this point) out of the series. Bunting, however, won’t suit up for the Leafs tonight as Sheldon Keefe is scratching him, instead opting for the winning lineup he’s been rolling out so far in this series.
Keefe on message to Bunting: The message was that he will get back in, just not tomorrow.
— David Alter (@dalter) April 26, 2023
It's not an easy decision because Bunts has played some really good hockey for us. Really the message will be that he will get back in, just not tomorrow."
Why Michael Bunting is slated to be a healthy scratch for Game 5⤵️https://t.co/HaxPAhbIRo
— David Alter (@dalter) April 26, 2023
Keefe’s lineup isn’t completely void of updates, as the lineup changes he implemented after the Lightning-heavy first period in Game 4 have been rolled over into tonight’s game. William Nylander is back up with Matthews and Järnkrok, and rookie Matthew Knies is permanently in the top-six now. Defense and goaltending remains the same, although Matt Murray skated in practice as he works himself back from an injury suffered late in the season.
PP1 stays the same: Rielly, Matthews, Marner, O’Reilly, Tavares.
PP2: Giordano, Nylander Knies, Kerfoot, Jarnkrok. @BodogCA @RinkWideTOR— David Alter (@dalter) April 26, 2023
Tampa Bay Lightning Potential Lines
Forwards
Steven Stamkos – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Alex Killorn
Ross Colton – Nick Paul – Tanner Jeannot
Pat Maroon – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Corey Perry
Defense
Victor Hedman – Nick Perbix
Mikhail Sergachev – Darren Raddysh
Ian Cole – Zach Bogosian
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brian Elliott
Toronto Maple Leafs Potential Lines
Forwards
Calle Jarnkrok – Auston Matthews – William Nylander
Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Mitch Marner
Alex Kerfoot – Ryan O’Reilly – Noel Acciari
Zach Aston-Reese – David Kampf – Sam Lafferty
Defense
Morgan Rielly – Luke Schenn
TJ Brodie – Jake McCabe
Mark Giordano – Justin Holl
Goaltenders
Ilya Samsonov
Joseph Woll
