In Toronto, the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning built a 4-1 lead on Monday night in the first period, then needed a late strike from Brandon Hagel to force extra time.
In the extra session, Calle Jarnkrok hit for the game-winner with 46 seconds gone in the session for a 6-5 win to the Maple Leafs to complete the full rally.
It was Jarnkrok ‘s second goal of the game.
“It’s tough for [Auston Matthews] to have a hat trick every game, so I guess it’s good for us to get a couple in too,” Jarnkrok said.
“I didn’t think we played that bad in the first, they got two on the power play. Down 4-1 coming into the second, I think we had probably our best period of the season so far. We played good in the third. I thought we deserved to win in regulation, but we got it done in OT.”
Auston Matthews also hit for a double in the win.
“The result helps, of course,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “If we fell short here tonight, I’m leaving here feeling good. That second period to me was the best period I think we’ve played all season.”
Ilya Samsonov got the start for Toronto, but was give the hook after surrendering four goals and making eight saves in the first period.
Joseph Woll made 18 saves in relief.
The Leafs improved to 6-4-2.
Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame on a marker from Matthew Knies at 3:42.
“I don’t think anyone was pouting in the intermission,” Knies said. “Everyone was just really excited to get back out there and prove people wrong and just do well, simplify and play to our strengths. Everyone chipped in today and everyone did a great job.”
The rest of the first was all Tampa.
Victor Hedman scored 35 seconds after the Leafs lead to tie it, 1-1.
Nikita Kucherov hit for a double in the frame to give the Lightning a 3-1 lead. He scored at 6:11 and 11:27, off the power play.
Brayden Point pushed the lead out to 4-1 on a power play strike at 15:13.
In the middle frame, Matthews hit for his double at 2:22Â and 5:42 to make it 4-3 to Tampa after two periods.
Tampa dropped to 5-3-4.
“Everyone’s just got to want to go through the wall for the guy right next to you,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “I think, at times, we know how to do it. We do do it at times. And then, at times, we just get comfortable. It’s costing us a ton of points throughout the season already. Yeah, we got a point, but we can’t be giving up a 4-1 lead, giving up six goals and having to tie it with under two minutes left. That just explains itself.
“The Leafs turned it up a notch and we sat back and watched them. That was pretty much it.”
Jarnkrok’s first of the game came at 1:55 of the third to tie the game, 4-4.
Toronto then scored twice in eight seconds.
The Maple Leafs then claimed the lead, 5-4, on a strike from
Mitchell Marner hit for the second in the quick outburst for the 5-4 lead.
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Jonas Johansson made 28 save in the loss.
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