On this day in history: Leafs pull off comeback of epic proportions to force a Game 5
The 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs ended the regular season 3rd in the Atlantic Division and 7th in the Eastern Conference with 81 points. As the playoff bubble was being formed, the Leafs missed out on the round robin for the top-4 seeds in the East, so they had to face-off against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Qualifying Round.
Nearly identical records and both teams finishing with 81 points, it was a neck-and-neck series. They alternated with shutout victories in the first 2 games of the series before Columbus took a 2-1 lead heading into an elimination game. Up 3-0 in the third period after Boone Jenner's first of the series, Columbus was 5:42 away from heading into the first round of the bubble playoffs.
The Maple Leafs provided us with an epic comeback on this day in history, not only tying the game in regulation but staving off elimination by winning the game in overtime and forcing a Game 5.
Cam Atkinson scored his 2nd of the series to open the scoring in the first. Columbus doubled their lead in the second period before Jenner seemingly gave them an unassailable 3-goal lead after a ghastly giveaway from Morgan Rielly in his own zone.
With the goalie pulled, the Leafs won an offensive zone face-off and set up quickly before William Nylander hacked away for his 2nd of the series with 3:57 remaining in regulation. John Tavares cut the deficit in half only 51 seconds later with a shoulder-high-shot from the slot and then Zach Hyman tied the game with the Leafs 3rd goal with the goalie pulled with just 23 seconds left to force overtime.
On a power play in overtime, the Leafs were unable to win the draw but were able to keep the puck in the zone. It only took them 10 seconds to retrieve the puck, set up their power play, before Tavares found Auston Matthews all alone in the slot for a one-timer to force a Game 5 - and his 3rd point of the game.
Unfortunately the comeback was for naught as Columbus shutout the Leafs in Game 5 and advanced to play Tampa Bay in the First Round.
