The Toronto Maple Leafs triumphed over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the NHL playoffs, marking their first postseason victory in almost two decades. Coach Sheldon Keefe struggled to articulate his emotions, acknowledging the long and trying road his team had been on. Despite the celebration, Keefe reminded his team that there is still much work to be done. Toronto won the best-of-seven match, securing a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston or Florida. The Bruins and Panthers will play Game 7 of their first-round series soon. The Maple Leafs won the series in overtime three times, ultimately breaking an 11-game losing streak in elimination games. Tampa Bay’s loss ended their three-time consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, having won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021. Auston Matthews scored for Toronto, while John Tavares added the winning goal to secure the victory for the team. Toronto forward Michael Bunting returned to the lineup after his suspension for an illegal check to the head and interference against Tampa Bay’s Erik Cernak during Game 1.