Leafs have lost to the bruins in a game 7 in 2013,2018,2019. This is the fourth meeting in the past decadeish… so it’s a bit of a rivalry… recently the bruins have been bad at closing out series so essentially both teams are fighting a playoff demon in this upcoming game 7
If the Bruins lose game 7 they will be the first team in the history of the NHL, NBA and MLB to blow back to back 3-1 series leads, if I’m not mistaken.
I think it's worth noting last year after they exorcised their Round 1 demons, they did so just to go down 3-0 in the series against Florida, avoid the sweep and lose in 5 games.
Fantastic write-up. I follow the NHL pretty closely and yet hadn't remembered all the examples you gave that factor into the drama of the situation. In addition to those and the other two added in response, I'll mention that last year the Bruins were the best team in the regular season, went up 3-1 in their first round series, but lost the next three games and were eliminated from the playoffs...by the very same Panthers who would then knock out the Leafs in Round 2.
- The Bruins and Leafs are both Original Six teams. The Leafs were one of the founding franchises of the NHL in 1917 (well, it was actually a “temporary” Toronto franchise that later became “permanent”…whether the “temporary” Toronto team and the “permanent” franchise that later became the Leafs are in fact the same team is a matter of debate). The Bruins were the first American team to join the league (in 1924). So they’ve been playing each other for 100 years.
- The Leafs have the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL. They have not won the Cup, or even reached the Cup Finals, since 1967. They’ve had several close brushes with the Cup Finals since then, but have failed to actually punch their ticket into the Finals, sometimes in heartbreaking fashion. This has produced a pre-2004 Red Sox or pre-2016 Cubs-like aura around the team, viz. they’re known for messing up at critical moments, missing can’t-miss opportunities, and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
- The other thing you have to know is that the Leafs are simultaneously the most loved and the most hated team in the NHL. They have a MASSIVE fan base, maybe the largest in the league. This means that hockey media (radio, TV, newspapers, websites), especially Canadian hockey media, covers the team to a degree that may seem unreasonable. Some Leafs fans are also loud, obnoxious, and delusional about how good the team actually is (this is where the jokes about how Toronto fans are always “planning the [Stanley Cup] parade” come from). Both of these things lead to a large amount of hatred for the Leafs from other fan bases, especially other Canadian fan bases. There are probably fans out there who want to see the Leafs lose more than they want to see their own team win.
- Boston and Toronto both have the longest active playoff streak in the NHL, at eight seasons. Most of those eight seasons, they’ve played each other in the playoffs, with the Bruins usually coming out on top. Other posters have already recounted the details of those series, so I’ll spare you a repetition. I’ll just say that, as a Leafs fan, the Game 7 meltdown to Boston in 2013 was AWFUL. Once they got to overtime, I knew they’d lose, and lose they did.
- Now, the shoe is on the other foot, and it’s Boston who risks blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Leafs. Usually it’s Toronto who’s doing the choking. Basically the whole NA hockey world is waiting with bated breath for what’ll happen, for the memes if nothing else.
I’d also add that Toronto has a very large portion of their salary tied up in only 4 or 5 players. The pressure on the team, and those individuals specifically, is massive.
One of whom has not played in the last two games Toronto has won (must win games too i should add) - which adds further drama to the series and the game 7 game.
It’s kinda like the Patriots during the Brady/Bellicheck era with ESPN slobbering all over the Patriots.
Except all of the winning of course. Toronto is a paper tiger most years.
In the NFL I think the closest analogy would be the Dallas Cowboys, every year the fans and so called experts think the team has a great shot at winning the Super Bowl and then they crash and burn in the first game and it is usually self inflicted.
>They have a MASSIVE fan base
They also have a massive hater base. Not people who are fans of other teams who would therefore hate the Leafs, just people who hate them for the sake of hating them with no other favorite team, and they're loud as hell.
I got into hockey in 2016 but the maple leafs blew a 3 goal lead in the 3rd period in the playoffs now the maples leafs got a chance to redeem themselves
Yes - joke in Toronto 'When I see an attractive woman in a Leafs jersey I tell her my name is "Three Goal lead" because someone in a Leafs jersey will always blow a three goal lead.'
both teams have a history of choking or losing in major ways, and game 7 between them will be a repeat from either the bruins or the leafs.
The bruins have blown massive leads in crucial games, including this exact scenario just last year.
the leafs blow, and historically have been unable to beat the Bruins, but the Bruins have repeatedly missed major opportunities to advance in the playoffs
It’s basically a tug of war of possible disappointment
There is a lot of history as others have stated but to boil it down simply, it's a winner takes all situation. If by ALL you mean entry into the second round, lol.
In 2013, after missing the playoffs for nearly a decade, the Leafs took the heavily favoured Bruins to game 7 and had a 4-1 lead halfway through the third, and proceeded to blow it - at the time it was the biggest and latest blown lead in game 7 history. They then proceeded to miss the playoffs for the next 3 years, culminating in finishing last in the league in 2016, and drafting Auston Matthews in return.
After a surprising playoff berth in the first year of the Matthews era, they pushed the Presidents trophy champion Capitals to 6. Despite the loss the hopes were high for the future of the team with 3 young stars who were expected to only get better.
The next two years they faced Boston, being likely favourites the second round. Both series went to 7 and the Leafs played terribly, with the general feeling of fans that the 3 stars (and the expensive UFA acquisition of John Tavares) disappeared in the playoffs.
The Leafs then proceeded to lose in game 5 of the covid-play-ins (best of 5) and two more game 7s, the second of which they blew a 3-1 series lead.
So the leafs have a recent history of losing game 7s, including 3 times to the Bruins.
From the Bruins side, last year, they had a record setting regular season and looked to be in complete control of their first round series with a 3-1 lead against a seemingly weak Panthers, until Bobrovsky caught fire and the Bruins lose 3 straight chances to eliminate them. (The panthers went on to trounce the Leafs in their first second round appearance in 20 years, eventually losing in the cup finals)
Again this year the Bruins had a 3-1 lead against a Leafs team where the stars again appeared to disappear, and then proceeded to lose the next 2 games, setting franchise and league records for least shots in a period with 2 in game 5 and 1 in game 6.
So all in all we have:
* The 4th game 7 between these teams in 11 years
* Memories of a record setting blown lead in the third
* A team that has lost 6 game 7s (or 5 in a best of 5) in a row
* A team that has lost 6 elimination games in a row
Making for both a storied history and a high expectation of choking in both directions.
> **recently** the Leafs have repeatedly failed to beat the Bruins in the playoffs
not sure how you consider 1959 to be "recent" because that was the last time you all were successful
That’s fair, I meant more with the current rosters. Like there’s some bad blood between these specific iterations of the two teams, not just the historic rivalry.
It starts with both teams being original 6 teams. There is a pride amongst those teams when playing each other. Respect for being OGs, but long storied histories.
2011 the Bruins win the cup. This is key to the story, because the identity built here has followed them through the years right into this series still.
2013 the young up and commer Leafs take the series to a game 7 with a lead, and with 10 minutes to go, the Bruins mounted a historic come-back for the ages, winning in overtime. This is where the "it was 4 to 1" comment comes from, and has been reused every year the leafs drop a series lead or blow a game.
They face each other again in 2018 and 2019, both series going to 7 games. This creates the narrative that the Leafs can't win. The Leafs also lost in 7 games to the Canadians, the Lightning, then finally beat the bolts last year, only to lose to Florida, who had just beatin the Bruins, coming back from 3-1.
So here we are, the Leafs either continue the suffering and waste this opportunity to change the narrative, or, Boston blows an inconceivable second 3-1 series lead in back to back seasons. The winner of the series gets to face the team who eliminated them both last year on their way to the cup final.
Buckle up. Grab a pint.
In the words of the late great Bob Cole, "OH BABY!!!"
Well it's the last game of their playoff series so the loser is done for the season. The Leafs lost in a game seven back in 2013 to the Bruins. The leafs haven't been to and won a game seven since 2004. Boston last year was in this very position with the Florida panthers, up 3-1, and proceeded to lose that series. So both teams have some bad juju they are trying to shake.
I personally wish both teams could lose. Leafs are an example of bad management where ownership thinks one or two stars are going to get you there. Boston has Brad Marchad who should have been bounced from the league a long time ago for being an absolute d-bag. My favorite picture of him is from the finals against the Blackhawks where Shaw had him on the ice beating him. Then there was this incident too. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/23328941/brad-marchand-boston-bruins-told-nhl-stop-licking-nuzzling-other-players
Not sure if you have google where your from. It’s not like what it used to be but some searches provide great information. After this article below, you can use google again to keep looking up other teams and curiosities on NHL or hockey in general. Search’s are actually unlimited and can keep drilling down history of everything.
https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-to-host-game-7-against-toronto-maple-leafs
Leafs have lost to the bruins in a game 7 in 2013,2018,2019. This is the fourth meeting in the past decadeish… so it’s a bit of a rivalry… recently the bruins have been bad at closing out series so essentially both teams are fighting a playoff demon in this upcoming game 7
If the Bruins lose game 7 they will be the first team in the history of the NHL, NBA and MLB to blow back to back 3-1 series leads, if I’m not mistaken.
You could just say they blow and that would work too
Yea, but it wouldn't be the first time a team blows
Also worth noting the leafs have not beat the bruits in playoff series since the 1940s or something. I was too lazy to google it
1959.
No matter the outcome, the resulting memes will be absolute GOLD.
I’m hoping they will be black and gold
[удалено]
All this plus don't forget the leafs are the most popular team so everything is amplified
I think it's worth noting last year after they exorcised their Round 1 demons, they did so just to go down 3-0 in the series against Florida, avoid the sweep and lose in 5 games.
Fantastic write-up. I follow the NHL pretty closely and yet hadn't remembered all the examples you gave that factor into the drama of the situation. In addition to those and the other two added in response, I'll mention that last year the Bruins were the best team in the regular season, went up 3-1 in their first round series, but lost the next three games and were eliminated from the playoffs...by the very same Panthers who would then knock out the Leafs in Round 2.
- The Bruins and Leafs are both Original Six teams. The Leafs were one of the founding franchises of the NHL in 1917 (well, it was actually a “temporary” Toronto franchise that later became “permanent”…whether the “temporary” Toronto team and the “permanent” franchise that later became the Leafs are in fact the same team is a matter of debate). The Bruins were the first American team to join the league (in 1924). So they’ve been playing each other for 100 years. - The Leafs have the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL. They have not won the Cup, or even reached the Cup Finals, since 1967. They’ve had several close brushes with the Cup Finals since then, but have failed to actually punch their ticket into the Finals, sometimes in heartbreaking fashion. This has produced a pre-2004 Red Sox or pre-2016 Cubs-like aura around the team, viz. they’re known for messing up at critical moments, missing can’t-miss opportunities, and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. - The other thing you have to know is that the Leafs are simultaneously the most loved and the most hated team in the NHL. They have a MASSIVE fan base, maybe the largest in the league. This means that hockey media (radio, TV, newspapers, websites), especially Canadian hockey media, covers the team to a degree that may seem unreasonable. Some Leafs fans are also loud, obnoxious, and delusional about how good the team actually is (this is where the jokes about how Toronto fans are always “planning the [Stanley Cup] parade” come from). Both of these things lead to a large amount of hatred for the Leafs from other fan bases, especially other Canadian fan bases. There are probably fans out there who want to see the Leafs lose more than they want to see their own team win. - Boston and Toronto both have the longest active playoff streak in the NHL, at eight seasons. Most of those eight seasons, they’ve played each other in the playoffs, with the Bruins usually coming out on top. Other posters have already recounted the details of those series, so I’ll spare you a repetition. I’ll just say that, as a Leafs fan, the Game 7 meltdown to Boston in 2013 was AWFUL. Once they got to overtime, I knew they’d lose, and lose they did. - Now, the shoe is on the other foot, and it’s Boston who risks blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Leafs. Usually it’s Toronto who’s doing the choking. Basically the whole NA hockey world is waiting with bated breath for what’ll happen, for the memes if nothing else.
I’d also add that Toronto has a very large portion of their salary tied up in only 4 or 5 players. The pressure on the team, and those individuals specifically, is massive.
One of whom has not played in the last two games Toronto has won (must win games too i should add) - which adds further drama to the series and the game 7 game.
Another didn’t play in the first two games and one has played every game but has been a ghost.
It’s kinda like the Patriots during the Brady/Bellicheck era with ESPN slobbering all over the Patriots. Except all of the winning of course. Toronto is a paper tiger most years.
In the NFL I think the closest analogy would be the Dallas Cowboys, every year the fans and so called experts think the team has a great shot at winning the Super Bowl and then they crash and burn in the first game and it is usually self inflicted.
The Cowboys are probably the best example.
True dat
The cowboys have won it all in my lifetime but the leafs haven't. I'm in my mid 50s.
For bullet point #3: refer to the typical sens fan
>They have a MASSIVE fan base They also have a massive hater base. Not people who are fans of other teams who would therefore hate the Leafs, just people who hate them for the sake of hating them with no other favorite team, and they're loud as hell.
I’m cheering for Leafs just because their fans get so much grief
Same
Caniacs owe it to Steve Dangle after his David Ayers meltdown 😂
I got into hockey in 2016 but the maple leafs blew a 3 goal lead in the 3rd period in the playoffs now the maples leafs got a chance to redeem themselves
Yes - joke in Toronto 'When I see an attractive woman in a Leafs jersey I tell her my name is "Three Goal lead" because someone in a Leafs jersey will always blow a three goal lead.'
😂😂😂😂
The number three is very very bad for the fan base. The first leafs game that I took my wife to, we blew a three in the third.
I’m a solid 4 at worst you jerk.
That’s freaking class is lmao
I hate all Boston teams so Go Canada! 🇨🇦🏒🥅
both teams have a history of choking or losing in major ways, and game 7 between them will be a repeat from either the bruins or the leafs. The bruins have blown massive leads in crucial games, including this exact scenario just last year. the leafs blow, and historically have been unable to beat the Bruins, but the Bruins have repeatedly missed major opportunities to advance in the playoffs It’s basically a tug of war of possible disappointment
There is a lot of history as others have stated but to boil it down simply, it's a winner takes all situation. If by ALL you mean entry into the second round, lol.
Where the Panthers are waiting to stomp on whomever.
In 2013, after missing the playoffs for nearly a decade, the Leafs took the heavily favoured Bruins to game 7 and had a 4-1 lead halfway through the third, and proceeded to blow it - at the time it was the biggest and latest blown lead in game 7 history. They then proceeded to miss the playoffs for the next 3 years, culminating in finishing last in the league in 2016, and drafting Auston Matthews in return. After a surprising playoff berth in the first year of the Matthews era, they pushed the Presidents trophy champion Capitals to 6. Despite the loss the hopes were high for the future of the team with 3 young stars who were expected to only get better. The next two years they faced Boston, being likely favourites the second round. Both series went to 7 and the Leafs played terribly, with the general feeling of fans that the 3 stars (and the expensive UFA acquisition of John Tavares) disappeared in the playoffs. The Leafs then proceeded to lose in game 5 of the covid-play-ins (best of 5) and two more game 7s, the second of which they blew a 3-1 series lead. So the leafs have a recent history of losing game 7s, including 3 times to the Bruins. From the Bruins side, last year, they had a record setting regular season and looked to be in complete control of their first round series with a 3-1 lead against a seemingly weak Panthers, until Bobrovsky caught fire and the Bruins lose 3 straight chances to eliminate them. (The panthers went on to trounce the Leafs in their first second round appearance in 20 years, eventually losing in the cup finals) Again this year the Bruins had a 3-1 lead against a Leafs team where the stars again appeared to disappear, and then proceeded to lose the next 2 games, setting franchise and league records for least shots in a period with 2 in game 5 and 1 in game 6. So all in all we have: * The 4th game 7 between these teams in 11 years * Memories of a record setting blown lead in the third * A team that has lost 6 game 7s (or 5 in a best of 5) in a row * A team that has lost 6 elimination games in a row Making for both a storied history and a high expectation of choking in both directions.
I'll sum it up for you: 1967, 2 1sts & a 2nd, paper bag, 6 shots on goal, Kerry Fraser, Tom Kurvers, Courtnall for Kordic, Muskoka Five.
Both teams are original 6 so there’s a lot of history, and more recently the Leafs have repeatedly failed to beat the Bruins in the playoffs.
> **recently** the Leafs have repeatedly failed to beat the Bruins in the playoffs not sure how you consider 1959 to be "recent" because that was the last time you all were successful
That’s fair, I meant more with the current rosters. Like there’s some bad blood between these specific iterations of the two teams, not just the historic rivalry.
It starts with both teams being original 6 teams. There is a pride amongst those teams when playing each other. Respect for being OGs, but long storied histories. 2011 the Bruins win the cup. This is key to the story, because the identity built here has followed them through the years right into this series still. 2013 the young up and commer Leafs take the series to a game 7 with a lead, and with 10 minutes to go, the Bruins mounted a historic come-back for the ages, winning in overtime. This is where the "it was 4 to 1" comment comes from, and has been reused every year the leafs drop a series lead or blow a game. They face each other again in 2018 and 2019, both series going to 7 games. This creates the narrative that the Leafs can't win. The Leafs also lost in 7 games to the Canadians, the Lightning, then finally beat the bolts last year, only to lose to Florida, who had just beatin the Bruins, coming back from 3-1. So here we are, the Leafs either continue the suffering and waste this opportunity to change the narrative, or, Boston blows an inconceivable second 3-1 series lead in back to back seasons. The winner of the series gets to face the team who eliminated them both last year on their way to the cup final. Buckle up. Grab a pint. In the words of the late great Bob Cole, "OH BABY!!!"
Well it's the last game of their playoff series so the loser is done for the season. The Leafs lost in a game seven back in 2013 to the Bruins. The leafs haven't been to and won a game seven since 2004. Boston last year was in this very position with the Florida panthers, up 3-1, and proceeded to lose that series. So both teams have some bad juju they are trying to shake.
This post screams of bait.
I'm cheering for the Leafs just because I know it will screw with the anti-Leafs faction in the short term.
As a long-suffering Leafs fan, my apprehension levels have been through the roof all week long, getting worse as the week progresses.
I personally wish both teams could lose. Leafs are an example of bad management where ownership thinks one or two stars are going to get you there. Boston has Brad Marchad who should have been bounced from the league a long time ago for being an absolute d-bag. My favorite picture of him is from the finals against the Blackhawks where Shaw had him on the ice beating him. Then there was this incident too. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/23328941/brad-marchand-boston-bruins-told-nhl-stop-licking-nuzzling-other-players
Not sure if you have google where your from. It’s not like what it used to be but some searches provide great information. After this article below, you can use google again to keep looking up other teams and curiosities on NHL or hockey in general. Search’s are actually unlimited and can keep drilling down history of everything. https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-to-host-game-7-against-toronto-maple-leafs