Maple Leafs Use Matthew Knies Hat Trick to Down the Lightning in Overtime

The Maple Leafs struck first just over a minute into the game when Matthews intercepted a Brandon Hagel pass and fed Mitch Marner, who ripped a shot past Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

It was Marner’s 202nd career multi-point game, passing Dave Keon (201) for the fourth most in franchise history.

Two minutes later, Knies hit the back of the net to make the score 2-0, with Matthews picking up another assist.

The Lightning got on the board when Nick Perbix scored with just over a minute left in the period to make the score going into the first intermission 2-1.

After Scott Laughton took an interference penalty late in the second period, the Lightning capitalized on the man advantage when Oliver Bjorkstrand scored early in the third.

That lead was short-lived. Emil Lilleberg was whistled for a double minor high-sticking penalty, and Knies scored his second goal of the game on the power play to give the lead back to the Maple Leafs.

In the middle of the third period, Brayden Point and Bobby McMann were sent off for five minutes for fighting, but McMann picked up an extra two minutes for a cross-check. Victor Hedman scored on the ensuing power play to make the score 3-3, which was the score at the end of regulation.

Both teams had great chances in overtime, but Knies finally buried a wide-open shot that won the game for the Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs swept the season series against the Lightning for the sixth time in franchise history. The other times were 1998-99, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2006-07, and 2011-12 (all 4-0-0).

The Lightning played the game without Jake Guentzel, who missed the game due to what the team called a family matter.