Big first period carries Lightning past skidding Maple Leafs

Field Level Media|published: Sat 7th March, 22:07 2026

Mar 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel (59) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel each had a goal and an assist Saturday night and the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday night.

Nikita Kucherov added four assists to give him 100 points (32 goals, 68 assists) for the season.

Ryan McDonagh, Corey Perry and Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored for the Lightning, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli each contributed two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 27 shots.

The Lightning's most-recent win before the losing streak was against the Maple Leafs in their first game after the Olympic break.

Matias Maccelli and Nicholas Robertson scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost seven in a row (0-5-2) since the Olympic break.

Anthony Stolarz made 28 saves for Toronto.

The Lightning led 4-1 after one period.

Toronto took a 1-0 lead at 4:50 of the first period when Maccelli converted a pass from William Nylander on a 2-on-1.

Tampa Bay answered 46 seconds later when McDonagh's shot from the left circle deflected in off the skate of Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe.

Guentzel chipped in a rebound with a backhand at 12:30. Perry scored at 13:48 on a shot from the bottom of the left circle after stopping Hagel's pass with his left skate and kicking it to his stick.

Perry was acquired at the trade deadline on Friday from the Los Angeles Kings and arrived in Toronto early Saturday morning.

Bjorkstrand scored from the left circle during a power play at 15:06. Brandon Carlo was serving a hooking penalty.

The Maple Leafs provided more competition in the second period, but neither team scored as the Lightning effectively clogged the middle.

Toronto applied some pressure in the third. Standout center Auston Matthews rang a shot off the crossbar five minutes into the third period. Matthews has not scored a goal in 11 games.

Vasilevskiy stopped Matthew Knies' 11-foot shot with his blocker seven minutes into the third.

Stolarz took his turn to shine when he stymied Hagel from close in at 12:18.

Hagel scored into an empty net at 15:41 of the third.

Robertson scored on a wraparound at 19:29.

--Field Level Media

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