The Toronto Maple Leafs have defied expectations and forced a Game 7 against the Boston Bruins after dropping three of the first four games and losing their star player. While many believed that this Leafs team disappears when faced with adversity, recent history tells a different story.
Throughout the Brendan Shanahan era, the Leafs have shown resilience in tough situations. In 2018, they fell behind 3-1 in the series against the Bruins but fought back to force a Game 7. In 2020, they faced elimination against the Columbus Blue Jackets but scored three quick goals to force overtime and eventually win the series. In 2021, despite losing their captain early in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens, they won three straight games and made their opponents look overmatched. In 2022, they rallied from a third-period deficit to take a series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Even last year against Florida, trailing 3-0 in the series, they played their best game to stay alive.
This pattern of comeback stories is the Leafs’ trademark. They don’t disappear when the going gets tough; they fight back. However, their inspiring comebacks often end in disappointment. In 2018, they blew a third-period lead and lost the series. In 2020, they followed their miracle comeback with a lackluster performance in the deciding game. The same happened in 2021 against Montreal and in 2022 against Tampa Bay. The Leafs have a tendency to lose their momentum and fail to capitalize on their chances.
Maple Leaf fans may feel conflicted about the team’s recent comeback. While they deserve credit for finding another level and stepping up in the absence of Auston Matthews, it ultimately doesn’t matter if they can’t finish the job in Game 7. The Bruins and their fans must be panicking, as they experienced a similar collapse against the Panthers last year. If the Leafs win Game 7, it would be a thrilling comeback and a potential turning point for the team. However, if they lose, it will be another disappointment, and everything that led to their comeback will be forgotten.
The Leafs have one last chance to prove themselves and rewrite their narrative. They can’t settle for moral victories or make a case for running it back. They need to win Game 7 and show that they can finish what they started. This is an opportunity for the team to change the ending of their story and potentially slay some dragons in the process. However, if they fail to do so, it will be yet another setback in a long history of disappointment.
It’s time for the Leafs to seize the opportunity and complete the job. There’s no middle ground at this point. They have to win the series and move forward as underdogs against Florida. Only then can they truly prove their critics wrong and embark on a new chapter of success. The path is there for the taking; now it’s up to the Leafs to finish what they’ve started.