WATCH: Pat Maroon trucks Mark Giordano into wall during Leafs Game 5 loss to Lightning, NHL Twitter reacts

NHL hands down roughing penalty to Pat Maroon as ‘Big Rig’ slams Leafs Mark Giordano into boards during Game 5 of playoff series.

WATCH: Pat Maroon trucks Mark Giordano into wall during Leafs Game 5 loss to Lightning, NHL Twitter reacts

Mark Giordano and Pat Maroon [Image Credit: Sporting News/The Toronto Star]

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pat Maroon was handed a roughing penalty by NHL after his thunderous hit on Leafs’ defenceman Mark Giordano. Following the hit, Giordano did not return to Leafs’ bench at the start of the 3rd period. The defenceman slammed onto the wall headfirst firing up the Leafs’ crowd in the process.

Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe stated that it was a “tight hockey game” admitting that the Bolts have been able to top them in terms of territorial battle playing hard to earn the win. They’ll now be heading toward Game 6 to decide the 1st-round series winner.

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Keefe noted, “They played as perfect of a road game as you could probably ask for if you are them”. Although the Leafs had the chance to capitalize on the power play in the first period, they failed to do so, boosting the Bolts to take the lead, It was a tight hockey game all the way through and the Leafs failed to get the victory due to a few misses.

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Lightning ‘Bolts’ successfully paralyze Toronto Maple Leafs in their series advances

Tampa Bay Lightning win against Toronto Maple Leafs [Image Credit: NY Post]
Tampa Bay Lightning win against Toronto Maple Leafs [Image Credit: NY Post]

Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe admitted that it’s a “real challenge” to face the Lightning as they capitalize on every opportunity they get to get the win. Although the Leafs’ weren’t down badly, the Lightning boosted their spirit, tightening their defensive zone, according to Maple Leafs Hot Stove.

Defenceman Morgan Rielly opened up their scoring window for Toronto in the best-of-7 first-round series. Despite Auston Matthews coming in the clutch at 16:26, Lightning’s Alex Killorn buried an empty netter to kill the Leafs’ advance sealing off the Bolts’ victory.

Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves on 30 shots as they head into Game 6 on Saturday with Leafs leading 3-2 in the series. According to The Athletic, Bolts forward Mikey Eyssimont’s soft shot made its way past Ilya Samsonov as the Scotiabank Arena crowd gasped in shock. 

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Matthews stated, “It was a tight game through and through”.  The forward admitted that there were chances that the team “didn’t capitalize on.” Although the effort was there, it wasn’t enough for them to seal the victory. Defenceman Morgan Rielly noted, “We’ll see what happens. We’re confident with our group.” 

Reilly believes they can once again bring out their best performance as they’ve been dominating the Bolts so far in the season. He admits that they may not have been prepared for the Bolts’ attack and so “It’s important for our group to refocus and go on the road with a mission.”

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