Game sevens are like the Super Bowl of hockey. The tension, the drama, it's all there, especially when it goes to overtime. Yet, someone has to lose. And last night, it was the Maple Leafs fans' again who felt the gut punch of defeat.
Imagine being a longtime Leafs fan—no Stanley Cups since 1967. You've also been through the wringer before. The Bruins got 'em in overtime. In 2013, they rallied from 4-1 down in the third period. They blew another lead in 2018 and got routed in 2019, the same Game 7 story at TD Garden. It happened again in overtime fashion on Saturday, 11 years after the rivalry was renewed between the original six franchises. They haven't beaten the Bruins in a series since way back in 1959.
Over in Toronto, Nathan Phillips Square was packed with Leafs faithful, ready to celebrate a win. But instead, they were left with that all-too-familiar feeling of disappointment.