Tavares’ OT Goal Gives Maple Leafs Series Win Over Lightning

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates with the bench after his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series April 29, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally advanced in the NHL playoffs, and coach Sheldon Keefe struggled to find the right words to capture the moment.

“It’s been a long road for a lot of our guys. ... They’ve been through a lot, been questioned a lot,” he said Saturday night after John Tavares scored 4:35 into overtime, and the Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 for their first postseason win in nearly two decades.