Leafs get booed off the ice af...

Many experts predicted that the Toronto Maple Leafs would finally overcome their first-round woes by defeating one of their tormentors, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The reasoning seemed good, but there was that nagging feeling that we'd all seen this movie before.

On that topic, the opening period of Game 1 started like a horror film for the Maple Leafs, and not one of those slow-building ones.

At the end of the first period, Leafs supporters erupted in a hail of boos as the Lightning built a devastating 3-0 lead. Nikita Kucherov scored on the power play with only seconds left in the first period to put the game out of reach.

To some extent, Kucherov will cause havoc against almost any team, especially with the man advantage. The greater body of work translates to a troubling start for Toronto.

Tough beginning to Game 1 for Leafs, Samsonov

If Tampa Bay had one clear on-paper edge entering into this series — aside from history — it was in net. Unfortunately, Ilya Samsonov's 20-minute performance did little to allay such anxieties.

However, it was not all the netminder's responsibility. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored on a rebound produced by Corey Perry about a minute in. This is the kind of turnover you can't afford against a seasoned, veteran squad, as Zach Aston-Reese fumbled and the Bolts capitalized.

The 2-0 goal was the most troublesome for Samsonov, who let up a tasty rebound from a Brandon Hagel shot, which Anthony Cirelli pounced on. Add in Kucherov's 3-0 goal, and Toronto is off to the worst possible start.

After laying an egg in the first period, the Leafs are 0-15 all-time in the playoffs when down by three or more goals after the first period, according to Sportsnet Stats.