Tavares takes ownership of slow start to series: 'I expect more'

Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares was critical of his performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a lopsided 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 on Sunday.

"I mean, I haven't been able to produce offensively as I'd like and I would still like to create more offensively; I expect more and want to be better," Tavares said after the loss, according to The Leafs Nation's David Alter.

Tavares assisted William Nylander's third-period goal when the game was well out of reach to bring his point total to two through four games this postseason. Eight Lightning power plays limited Tavares' ice time to only 13:50 on Sunday, his lowest total of the season.

Tavares' underlying numbers have been underwhelming to this point. With the 31-year-old on the ice this series at five-on-five, Toronto owns 44.05% of shot attempts, 38.78% of scoring chances, 46.92% expected goals, and has been outscored 2-0.

"He's working, he's trying. It's tough, it's a tough series out there," head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Tavares.

The Leafs and Lightning have alternated wins to this point. Game 5 goes Tuesday night in Toronto.

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