Tampa Bay's Nick Paulk accounted for both of the team's goals in the 2-1 win, the other unassisted.
The home team Toronto's only goal came from Morgan Reilly.
- I think there were chances throughout the match.
But the end result is of course a big disappointment, he says during a press conference after the match.
Since 2004, Toronto has not progressed once from the first round of the playoffs.
However, the loss frees William Nylander and Pierre Engvall for a possible World Cup game for Sweden in Finland.
In the quarterfinals, Tampa Bay will face the home state's second NHL team - the Florida Panthers.
Max Domi scored two goals and an assist for Carolina, who won over Boston 3-2 in the decisive quarterfinal match.
It was a home win every time between the teams in the series that is decided in the best of seven, where Carolina thus pulled the longest straw with four home meetings.
Carolina will play against either the New York Rangers or Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals.
Which team it will be will be decided the night before Monday Swedish time.
CLIP: Zibanejad saved Rangers in the playoffs (May 14, 2022)
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Zibanejad saved Rangers in the playoffs Photo: TT