Toronto takes Tampa

James Reimer stopped 34 shots Thursday night to help the Leafs end a five game losing streak with a 3-1 win in Tampa.

John-Michael Liles, Joey Crabb and Jake Gardiner all scored to edge out the Lighting and move the Leafs within eight points of Washington.  Liles put the Leafs up early with a powerplay goal at 1:09 in the first. Toronto added two more in the second with Crabb scoring early in the period. Gardiner’s quick wrist-short sealed the deal making it 3-0; Matthew Lombardi assisted in both goals. Tampa’s Martin St-Louis ended Reimer’s shut-out with 26 seconds left in the third. The loss keeps Tampa in eleventh in the East, seven points behind the Capitals.

Toronto is 3-13-2 in the last 18 games and heads to Ottawa Saturday night.