Leafs fans ride emotional roller coaster in dramatic win over Lightning
It got off to a real rocky start — and it stayed that way until the last possible moment.
The Tampa Bay Lightning opened the score on the Toronto Maple Leafs at 13:16 in the first period and Scotiabank Arena went from bustling with excitement to seething in frustration.
Never mind that the Maple Leafs had come into the contest with three consecutive wins. Trailing 1-0 in the first period was enough to piss off Leafs Twitter.
You don't need to watch the games anymore. Just look for this and you'll know that the Leafs are losing. pic.twitter.com/SgBOWuxwiO
— brian (@briancrd) November 5, 2021
Another day where the Leafs get goalied… pic.twitter.com/pp9fxz3pqN
— Mr. Bright Lights (@MapleGlazed_) November 5, 2021
With a lot of help from Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Lightning held onto the one-goal lead all the way through the first and second periods. The Maple Leafs finished the game with 32 shots on goal — five of them by captain John Tavares — but for most of the night it seemed impossible to score on the former Vezina Trophy winner.
By mid-second, miserable fans had had just about enough.
@MapleLeafs $hundreds in beer and 🌭 the team still sucks #1967 #Toronto pic.twitter.com/SeXiaA3adr
— @theweathernetwork™ (@cyclefixation) November 5, 2021
It seemed like so many other Leafs moments we've seen in the past few years. Toronto's previous three wins had come against the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and the struggling Vegas Golden Knights. Fitting that it would all collapse as soon as Toronto faced a "real team."
Even if Jack Campbell was out there looking like a Vezina candidate himself.
Jack Campbell giving them every opportunity here.
— Justin Cuthbert (@jccuthbert) November 5, 2021
Jack Campbell standing on his head to keep this a 1-0 game! 🤯#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/sa4IGpDE1F
— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) November 5, 2021
Jack Campbell is a human highlight reel rn. pic.twitter.com/dp6pj6tOOf
— alberto (@twistedleafs) November 5, 2021
Jack Campbell r/n pic.twitter.com/lu9NfI6LAm
— JD Bunkis (@JDBunkis) November 5, 2021
This man deserves all the Red lobster he can eat. #jackcampbell #LeafsForever #redlobster @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/0t8NRpBnH4
— Sammy (@LeafyFan348891) November 5, 2021
#Leafs net in the third period:#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/9NJIu8LaSC
— Sher&Lil (@SherAndLil) November 5, 2021
There was drama, dirty hits, mounting frustration and plenty of scoring chances. But there were just no goals.
Some fans resorted to superstition and all sorts of reverse psychology.
Never in doubt. https://t.co/722c1vtBDy
— Steve “Dangle” Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) November 5, 2021
Enter Tavares.
The Leafs captain was a man on a mission Thursday night, so it was only fair that he'd get to play hero. Tavares scored with less than a minute to go in the third period to tie the game at one apiece and send it to overtime. Suddenly, the energy of Leafs Nation was really different.
.@91Tavares ties it in the final minute! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/UfAVF9Qpy2
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) November 5, 2021
John Tavares celebrating a game tying goal in the final minute pic.twitter.com/Na5ZPB872d
— Michael (@TheLeafsIMO) November 5, 2021
John Tavares: 3 goals, 6 points during 4-game point streak.
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) November 5, 2021
Fired up John Tavares >>>>
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 5, 2021
JOHN TAVARES FOR MAYOR OF EARTH
— hb (@blatsyuk) November 5, 2021
After finally finding the lighting the lamp and getting back into it, the Leafs headed into overtime with all the momentum on their side.
leafs said pic.twitter.com/fpyp0JTenp
— holiday liz 🎄 (@yanoforsure) November 5, 2021
Tavares drew a power play after Victor Hedman was called for slashing, further paving the way for a comeback for the ages. William Nylander didn't disappoint on the man advantage. At 2:43 into OT, he netted the winner against the reigning champions, sending Leafs players and fans alike into delirium.
.@wmnylander wins it in OT! pic.twitter.com/XT1t1VuVNv
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) November 5, 2021
Me rn pic.twitter.com/nkqCfm4u6S
— Yes, im still a leafs fan unfortunately (@PikleSam) November 5, 2021
leafs win let’s get it pic.twitter.com/kJxekXU95d
— frosty (@hockeyandf1) November 5, 2021
william nylander OT winner???? pic.twitter.com/s5RzV11LAQ
— elle (@hymanhypeman) November 5, 2021
Predictably, Leafs Twitter changed its tune real fast after the comeback.
The Leafs winning 4 in a row after losing 5 of 6 pic.twitter.com/2ipG9FdZGH
— Kevin Michie (@KevinMichie) November 5, 2021
who doubted the leafs? not me, not us, not leafs twitter
— rahef 🍂✨ (@rahef_issa) November 5, 2021
William Nylander is the Leafs top goal scorer, tell your uncles
— Sarah Jenkins (@sarahjenkinsxo) November 5, 2021
Make it four straight wins and second place in the Atlantic.
how leafs fans are sleeping tonight pic.twitter.com/DsMLvwmvuY
— Julia (@juliadasilvaaa) November 5, 2021
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