More Game 7 heartache for Maple Leafs as Nick Paul powers Lightning

During the first Game 7 on Saturday, Max Domi emerged as an unexpected multiple goal-scorer for the Hurricanes. Nick Paul pulled off similar heroics for the Lightning in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs.

Paul scored both of the Lightning’s goals in Game 7. That would end up being all that Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Bolts needed, ending another Maple Leafs season in First Round heartbreak.

In many ways, this one felt different for Toronto. This one was close. You need to nitpick to beef about efforts from stars like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares.

The look may not be the same. But the result basically was. (Even most of those brutal Buds letdowns came in Game 7-type situations.)

As close as it was to ending, the Lightning’s three-peat bid lives on, and we’ll see another “Battle of Florida” as the Panthers will be their opponent.

Being that Nick Paul’s spent his career with the Senators before being traded to the Lightning, it’s not that shocking that he scored his first career playoff goal in Game 7. Either way, it’s impressive that he found the net twice.

NICHOLAS