JASON SPEZZA

Maple Leafs Canadiens Hockey Montreal Canadiens' Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) reacts after scoring in overtime on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell (36) in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff seres Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) (Ryan Remiorz)MONTREAL — (AP) — Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored at 15:15 of overtime and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Saturday night to force Game 7 in the first-round series. Jason Spezza and T.J. Brodie scored for Toronto, beating Price with under 10 minutes to go in regulation to tie it. Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe's challenge was denied, putting the Maple Leafs back down a man. And the Canadiens made the Maple Leafs pay when Toffoli squeezed a shot past Campbell at 6:43 to stretch the lead to 2-0.

Postseason experience can be a valuable asset in the NHL playoffs.

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