Lightning hold off Maple Leafs in Game 5 to avoid elimination

Michael Eyssimont had a goal and an assist as the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Thursday to force Game 6 in their first-round playoff series.

Anthony Cirelli, with a goal and an assist, Nick Paul and Alex Killorn, into an empty net, also scored for Tampa. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves.

Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews replied for Toronto, which got 34 stops from Ilya Samsonov. John Tavares had two assists.

The Leafs still lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Toronto, which has failed to advance in the post-season since 2004 and was eliminated by the Lightning in seven games in last spring's first round, is now 0-10 since 2018 with a chance to eliminate a post-season opponent.

Tied 1-1 after a spirited first period, the Lightning pushed ahead at 4:24 of the second when Eyssimont beat Samsonov through the pads from a tough angle for his first goal of the series.

What a BEAUT for your first playoff goal!!! <a href="https://t.co/wvqIPEBE69">pic.twitter.com/wvqIPEBE69</a>

Tampa nearly went up two off the rush when Brayden Point chimed a shot off the post that stayed out before Vasilevskiy flailed his arms at the other end on a scramble to keep a mid-air puck out of the Lightning net.

The period ended in controversy when Pat Maroon crushed Toronto defenceman Mark Giordano from behind into the boards. The initial play went uncalled, but the bruising Tampa winger was assessed a roughing penalty for the ensuing scrum.

Giordano rejoined his teammates on the bench shortly after the restart after getting looked at by the trainer.

The Leafs had a couple chances on the ensuing power play, but Vasilevskiy was there at every turn before denying Mitch Marner on a breakaway.

Samsonov then kept his