The Tampa Bay Lightning did many, many things well in their 2-0 loss to the Toronto Maples Leafs. They did the things that usually lead to wins. The only thing they didn’t do was score a goal. For the second straight game, Jonas Johansson did his job as he allowed just one goal, and for the second straight game he wasn’t rewarded for his efforts. Despite a valiant charge in the third period, the Lightning couldn’t equalize, and a late empty-net goal sealed their fate.
It was a solid start for the Lightning as they generated some early chances against Dennis Hildeby, but couldn’t finish against the Maples Leaf’s netminder. Late in the period, the breaks went the Leafs way as Morgan Reilly converted off of a rush play.
Morgan Reilly [5] (Easton Cowan, John Tavares) 1-0 Maple Leafs
Toronto goal! Scored by Morgan Rielly with 03:34 remaining in the 1st period. Assisted by Easton Cowan and John Tavares. Toronto: 1 Tampa Bay: 0 #TBLvsTOR #LeafsForever #GoBolts
— NHL Goals (@nhlgoals.bsky.social) December 8, 2025 at 8:29 PM
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Yes, the Lightning got caught in a bit of a line change, but they recovered pretty well. It’s a nice drop pass by John Tavares, but Easton Cowen’s centering attempt is blocked by Yanni Gourde. The puck goes right to Morgan Reilly who has his shot disrupted by a stick lift from Jake Guentzel and is knocked to the ice. His momentum takes him and the puck towards the net where he is able to tap it past Johansson.
The Lightning would pay at least $67.19 to get a break like that on a rush.
Yes, their play slacked a bit after the goal as they found themselves trailing in a game that the stats say they should have been winning. They survived the second period, in part thanks to Johansson, who finished the night with 22 saves. A power play at the end of the period struggled, but it gave them a little life to start the third.
For the final 30 minutes they played with a little desperation, something that they usually wait until the last few minutes of a game. They just couldn’t find the game-tying goal. They generated 9 shots on goal off of 19 attempts, but credit to the Toronto defense for denying any solid follow-up or rebound chances. When he had to make the stop, Hildeby, who finished with 29 saves, was up to the task.
Despite his excellent play, it was the post that made the biggest save of the game as Darren Raddysh whiplashed a shot from the point that found it’s way through traffic and past Hildeby, only to carom off the inside of the far post and under the goaltender. To add salt to the wound, shortly after, Auston Matthews picks the puck out of a scrum on the boards and just flicks it down the ice and it finds the empty net.
That’s just the way things are going right now. The Lightning need to keep fighting through it and keep playing the right way. The goals will come.
Note – yeah, this is not a great hit by Gage Goncalves. Not only a bit late, but for it to be knee-on-knee is inexcusable. The high-stick by Bobby McGinn might be even more bewildering.
Highlights
Pretty Colors!
