Nick Paul gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead with his stick work. (0:27)
The Lightning beat the Maple Leafs in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday night to advance to the second round.
Nick Paul, a third-line center, scored twice in the win. Morgan Rielly had a marker.
The second round of the playoffs will see a repeat of last year's first round series between the two teams.
Toronto had two chances to finish off the series in Game 5. The fifth consecutive first-round playoff series loss for Toronto was the result of the Game 7 defeat. They are 0-5 in their last five games and have an opportunity to close the game out.
The last time the Bolts lost a first-round series was in the playoffs, when they were swept by Columbus. They went on back-to-back Stanley Cup runs.
The series against Toronto was hard fought. The first four games of the series were dominated by the Leafs and the Bolts, but Toronto came back to win in Game 5. The only game in the series that required extra time was the 4-3 overtime win by the Bolts in Game 6.
The Maple Leafs jumped all over the Lightning but couldn&t beat the rock-solid Vasilevskiy. It was still zero at the end of the first half when Point went sliding into the boards with his leg buckled. Point was unable to put weight on his leg as he was helped off the ice.
After sliding into the boards with his right leg buckled under, Brayden Point left the game late in the first period. The center had to be helped off the ice and wasn't able to put weight on his leg.
The game was tied at one after the first period, but Paul scored on a rebound off Jack Campbell to give the Bolts the lead.
Point came back for the second. Point would remain out for the rest of the night after he was only able to take one shift.
The Leafs had to solve Vasilevskiy. Toronto thought it had the tying goal when John Tavares slipped behind the defense and scored, but that goal was waved off due to an interference call against Justin Holl.
Rielly found the back of the net to tie the game at one.
It wouldn't take long for Paul to light the lamp again, with a nifty move through the Leafs defense and a shot past Campbell.
Toronto was down 2-1 in the third when Paul went in on Campbell again. Campbell tried to shake off the injury that appeared to be a leg. Campbell stayed put after a couple laps around the zone. There was no call for goalie interference. Campbell made 23 saves.
The Maple Leafs had a chance to tie the game at the end, but Vasilevskiy shut the door.
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