Campbell delivers 'game-saving save' for Maple Leafs in Game 3

TAMPA --The Toronto Maple Leafs thought their 3-2 lead was going to evaporate the moment Steven Stamkos unleashed his one-timer. They had seen the Tampa Bay Lightning captain score countless goals like that from the left face-off circle over the years, and this one appeared to be no different.

Except it was, thanks to Jack Campbell.
The Maple Leafs goalie made the biggest stop of the game, and perhaps the season, with 6:43 remaining in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup First Round, helping Toronto hold on for a
5-2 victory
at Amalie Arena on Friday and take the lead in the best-of-7 series.
"There was a sense on the bench that it was going in," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said.
Had it indeed played out that way, the game would have been tied, and Toronto would have been fully on its heels after blowing a three-goal lead. Campbell was having none of it, though.
RELATED: [Complete Maple Leafs vs. Lightning series coverage]
With Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin in the penalty box for hooking, Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov found a lane and sent a cross-ice pass to Stamkos, who was winding up his patented slap shot.
However, Campbell was able to get across the crease and make a sprawling save without producing a rebound.
"I feel like I got everything [on it] and some," Stamkos said. "Great save."

One that might define Campbell's and Toronto's season.
A collapse would have left the Maple Leafs facing a must-win in Game 4 or risking returning to Toronto down 3-1 in the series. In that event, the Maple Leafs would have had to win three straight games to advance to the second round, something that seems like a long shot considering the fact that the Lightning have not lost consecutive postseason games since the start of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs (15-0).
"That was a pretty nice save at a crucial time at the game," Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews said. "He gives us confidence out there."
And, on this occasion, a much-needed victory.
"We're in the playoffs here, obviously, and that's a game-saving save," Keefe said.

For his part, Campbell doesn't like to talk about himself. It's been that way since he was acquired by the Maple Leafs in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 5, 2020.
That was no different Friday. He gave all the credit to his teammates in front of him, wanting none of it for himself, even if it was well deserved.
And then, in a rare moment of candidness, he showed the world his competitive side.
Campbell was asked about himself and Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is considered by many to be the best goaltender in the world and was given the edge by most pundits when it came to the matchup prior to the series beginning.
"I think it's human nature that, as an athlete, you want to be the best you can be," Campbell said. "Obviously, 'Vasy' has proven how good he is over the course of his NHL career. So it's a fun challenge. And I'd be lying if I said I don't want to do my best to beat him."
So far, he is doing just that.
Through the first three games of the series, Vasilevskiy has allowed 11 goals on 100 shots (.890 save percentage). Campbell has allowed seven goals on 92 shots (.924 save percentage).
"Thankfully, our team's been playing so well in front of me and scoring a lot of goals," Campbell said. "It's been huge for us."
Much like his stop on Stamkos.
"Sometimes with the quality that Tampa has, they're going to make great plays," Campbell said. "He made a great play there, and fortunately it stayed out."