The Toronto Maple Leafs are either the most accursed NHL franchise of the modern era, or they’re among the biggest, most consistent choke artists in all of sports. Maybe a bit of both. Regardless, it’s truly baffling to see the Pain Olympics the Leafs put their ever-loyal fan base through.
Latest case in point: Game 7 in Boston late Saturday night, when they grind through almost 50 minutes of scoreless hockey, have their only lead wiped out within about 80 seconds, and lose in overtime on David Pastrnak’s winner.
To be fair to the Leafs, they hung tough in enemy territory against a club who had its own serious pressures. The Bruins succumbed to the Presidents’ Trophy curse last season and blew a 3-1 first-round lead to the Panthers. They were on the verge of letting Toronto crawl back from a 3-1 deficit, which would’ve sent Boston into a collective depression. Until, of course, Beantown residents would’ve realized moments later that the Celtics are the prohibitive favorite to come out of the East and advance to the NBA Finals. Thanks in no small part to Jimmy Butler’s injury, or so he’d tell you.
Anyway, in a freaky sort of real-time prophecy that paid off pretty much right away, ESPN announcer Sean McDonough laid out the sequence of events that led to Pastrnak’s GWG right before it actually went down.
How many other ways could the B’s rub salt in the wounds of Toronto? How about showing Maple Leaf Square as the teams shook hands at center ice afterwards?
Here are some boots on the ground to show just how miserable the scene was North of the Border — save for the Bruins fan who happened to be there.
As a childhood fan of the Leafs who’s thankfully grown out of that endless cycle of sadness, this is what I mean when I refer to them as some of the biggest choke artists I’ve ever seen:
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is the company that owns the franchise. Although they’re spread out over multiple sports leagues and teams, they’re worth approximately $8 billion. The Leafs have done their damnedest to acquire talent, and aren’t afraid to write checks to bring aboard star players. They just can’t get it done in the playoffs, or get anywhere near sniffing a Stanley Cup no matter what they do.
Thus, Toronto’s drought continues. No Stanley Cup since 1967. The Leafs haven’t even made it past the Conference Finals in that near five-decade span. And to lose this latest Game 7 in Boston in such gut-punch fashion from a funny bounce off the boards only adds insult to injury. Harsh words from head coach Sheldon Keefe, too. Not exactly boosting morale over here, sir!
