AUSTON MATTHEWS

APTOPIX Lightning Maple Leafs Hockey Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save on Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 10, 2022 in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (Nathan Denette)TORONTO — (AP) — Auston Matthews scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:06 left in the third period and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from an early two-goal deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on Tuesday night and take a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series. The Leafs took their first lead when Nylander scored his third goal in the last two games on Vasilevskiy. The Maple Leafs were coming off a 7-3 loss to Tampa Bay in Game 4. The Leafs continued to push as the period wore on, with Vasilevskiy forced to make a number of huge saves.

Ross Colton scored twice, Andrei Vasilevskiy had 22 saves and the Tampa Bay Lightning got off to a fast start and beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3 in Game 4 to even their first-round playoff series.

Maple Leafs Lightning Hockey Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell (36) and center Auston Matthews (34) celebrate after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game 3 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Friday, May 6, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Jack Cambell had 32 saves — including three to protect the lead on a late power play — and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Friday night. Ross Colton and Ondrej Palat scored for Tampa Bay, and Andrei Vasilevskiy had 31 saves. The Lightning are 16-0 in games following a playoff loss over the last three postseasons, including a 5-3 win in Game 2 of this series. Mikheyer put the Maple Leafs up 4-2 at 18:20 of the period, and his second empty-netter came with 5 seconds remaining. Toronto, which hasn't won a playoff series since 2004, won the opening game of the series at home 5-0.

Jack Campbell had 32 saves — including three to protect the lead on a late power play — and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

Lightning Maple Leafs Hockey Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) try to defend against Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) during the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Monday, May 2, 2022. Jake Muzzin scored and David Kampf added a goal on a short-handed breakaway for Toronto, which killed off five Lightning power plays, including an early five-minute major. The second game of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday in Toronto. Teams that have won the series opener hold an all-time record of 499-228, including a 9-6 mark last season. The third and fourth games in the series are set for Friday and Sunday in Tampa.

“Everything you do is built towards the Stanley Cup,” veteran defenseman Ian Cole said. Florida and Carolina emerged as division winners, the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Panthers are favored to come out of the East and win the Stanley Cup, but no team’s path to the final is an easy one. Only one Presidents’ Trophy winner in that time has won the Stanley Cup in an 82-game season over that time. 2 TORONTO vs. 3 TAMPA BAYThe Lightning have won the Stanley Cup the past two years. So from Day One, our goal has been to win the Stanley Cup.

The eight playoff teams in the Eastern Conference have been set since before the All-Star break.

Red Wings Maple Leafs Hockey Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) carries the puck around the side of the Detroit Red Wings' net as Red Wings' Jordan Oesterle (82) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Matthews scored twice, the second on one of his patented snapshots, to become just the third player in the NHL’s salary cap era to register 60 goals in a season as Toronto defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-0 on Tuesday night. Matthews, who had gone five games without scoring, joined Steven Stamkos in 2011-12 and Alex Ovechkin in 2007-08 as the only players to reach 60 goals since the mid-1990s. “If you’re scoring 60, you’re finding ways to get it done no matter who you’re matched up against. And after Tavares doubled the Leafs’ lead at 4:03 of the third with his 27th, Matthews buried No.

Brandon Montour scored 2:26 into overtime and the NHL-leading Florida Panthers extended their winning streak to a franchise-record 13 games by beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Saturday night.

Five players made their NHL debut Tuesday night, fresh off their college season ending.

For a team accustomed to winning — not only the Stanley Cup the past two years but in the regular season at a high level — it has been a challenging few weeks. After coaching Tampa Bay on several long runs, missing the postseason entirely, enduring a stunning first-round sweep and then hoisting the Cup twice, Jon Cooper understands the answer won’t be clear until after the regular season. With that comes fatigue but also the perspective of what the regular season means in the grand scheme of trying to win a championship. The experience of that series undoubtedly played some role in Tampa Bay winning it all the past two years. Cooper called it a “pivotal” game, and a few more like it stand in the way before Tampa Bay can even try for the three-peat.

The Tampa Bay Lightning haven't been through struggles like this in many years.

Hurricanes Maple Leafs Hockey Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Petr Mrazek (35) and right wing Mitchell Marner (16) celebrate after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) (Frank Gunn)TORONTO — (AP) — Mitch Marner scored the tying goal late in the third period and then got the winner 2:51 into overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. The Maple Leafs finally beat Andersen on their third power-play situation. Matthews put Toronto in front 3:21 later, in the final minute of the second period, on a 37-foot blast from the high slot. Maple Leafs: At Calgary on Thursday night to open a three-game trip.

Most of the world’s best hockey players are spending this weekend in Las Vegas instead of the Olympic village in Beijing.

Washington star Alexander Ovechkin and high-scoring Edmonton teammates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl headline the rosters for the NHL All-Star Weekend announced Thursday.

McDavid, forward Derek Ryan and defenseman Tyson Barrie were placed in COVID-19 protocols before the Oilers’ game Wednesday night at Toronto. The Stars got them all back before a home game Thursday night against Florida. “We’re seven games behind Anaheim and Vegas. Before those games, the Stars had a five-game losing streak that followed a season-best seven wins in a row. “Little details are what’s going to be really important coming out of this long break,” Stars forward Jason Robertson said.

Oilers Devils Hockey Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) (Bill Kostroun)Edmonton captain Connor McDavid, forward Derek Ryan and defenseman Tyson Barrie were placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list before the Oilers' game at Toronto. The team was awaiting the results of further testing to determine their status for Wednesday’s matchup with the Maple Leafs. The Oilers also placed forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on injured reserve. The Oilers also announced forward Zack Kassian has cleared COVID-19 protocols and goaltender Ilya Konovalov has been loaned to the team’s taxi squad. Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews told reporters he planned on playing in Wednesday’s game after participating in practice.

Edmonton captain and reigning league MVP Connor McDavid has been placed on on NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.

A person with direct knowledge of discussions tells The Associated Press that the NHL is reintroducing enhanced COVID-19 protocols.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid ran away in the voting to win his second Hart Trophy as NHL MVP after leading the league in points.

The Buffalo Sabres have removed the interim tag from Don Granato and named him the team's full-time coach.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon have been named finalists for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.

Auston Matthews scored his NHL-leading 36th goal of the season as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Thursday night.

Many draft-eligible prospects and NHL teams attempting to pick them face an uncertain future after many leagues were unable to hold full seasons or play at all because of the pandemic.

Rewind to 2019 and early 2020 and that description fits the Tampa Bay Lightning, who added some grit and toughness to their talented core and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Lightning effect was clear as soon as NHL free agency opened. “You need guys that are going to have a little bit of sandpaper. “We maybe have taken a little bit of a step back from the most skillful lineup we’ve ever had to more of a balance between the will and the skill," Poile said. We certainly have a little bit more physicality, a little bit more grit and I think it’s probably and hopefully a better mix than we had last year.”___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

EDMONTON, AB – Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid has tested positive for COVID-19. The NHL made it through its postseason in bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton without one positive test in August and September. Two more positive tests were reported during training camp, which was considered Phase 3. Six members of the Ottawa Senators organization tested positive for COVID-19 after the team made a trip through hard-hit California just before the league suspended its season in March. The NHL stopped releasing the names or teams for positive tests earlier this year.

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2019, file photo, St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. Tarasenko makes his return after early season shoulder surgery that limited him to three goals in 10 games. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Ditto for St. Louis, the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Blues and Avalanche were navigating through some key injuries before the season was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The hiatus allowed time to heal and now the top two teams in the Western Conference return as Cup favorites. The two teams get things rolling Sunday in Edmonton by facing each other to kick off a round-robin tournament to determine seeding in the West. It should be a fun ride.Back on the ice for the Blues is forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who underwent shoulder surgery in late October.