Report: Leafs credit Spezza's 1st intermission speech with sparking comeback

In case you missed it, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning played an absolutely ELECTRIC game this evening with the Leafs eventually coming back to earn a 4-3 victory in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead.

After 20 minutes though it looked like the Leafs were ready to start booking their offseason tee times given their lack of effort. The Leafs were outshot 14-5 in the first period of the game and went into the intermission down two goals to none. That's reportedly when veteran Jason Spezza stood up and said enough to inspire his team to an improved performance in the second frame.

There was also this exchange between Spezza and goaltender Jack Campbell after Campbell gave up the 2-0 goal in the 1st period.

The Leafs managed to claw their way back into that game that period, scoring a goal. In the third period fans were treated to an absolute see-saw battle that saw some excellent hockey being played at both ends. The end result was superstar Auston Matthews putting the Leafs up 5-4 with just over five minutes left in regulation.

What a fantastic hockey game and an absolute gut check of a win for the Leafs. The series returns to Tampa on Thursday night for Game 6.