In a do or die game 7, the rule is to expect the unexpected. The Maple Leafs had years of shame and frustration they had to shake off while the Bruins were trying desperately not to blow a 3-1 series lead.
Who woulda thought, however, that in front of a packed house in the TD Garden, it would be Toronto to go ahead 4-1 and controlling the play.
Yes, with 2 goals by defenseman Cody Franson and helpers by Kessel from Kadri and vice versa, it seemed Toronto was finally going to break out of their slump and cruise to a game 7 victory against their much heated rivals. Even after a Nathan Horton goal cut the lead to 2, things looked pretty grim for the Boston faithful.
In the final few minutes, Bruin fans were parading out of the arena, expecting the Bruins to crumble.
They didn't.
With no more than a minute and a half left, Milan Lucic tipped the puck in as the extra attacker to make it a one goal game (something he also did about 24 hours earlier).
At that point, things started to turn. You sensed the nervous feeling at one end of the ice with the spark of hope going on at the other.
The next play happened pretty quickly. Bruins got the puck deep. Rask went back to the bench. Then the Bruins got the puck and set up. And that's when you knew what was going to happen next.
And because I like talking about them, I figured the Hockey Gods had a hand in this one.
We were either going to see the Maple Leafs win this in overtime, making this win ever so sweet, not only giving the Bruins hope and taking it away, but showing resiliency.
Or
We were going to see the Bruins finish the comeback, continuing the emotional train ride Boston has been in the past few weeks.
And it was all in the Hockey God's hands.
A little over five minutes into the extra frame, the Bruins put the game to bed, once and for all.
A couple of shots, a mad scramble, a rebound off of a Maple Leafs' stick, and Patrice Bergeron buries the biscuit into the back of the net, sending the Bruins fans (who stayed) home happy and the many up in Toronto into a state of shock.
So there you have it. One of the best games you will see for another few years, at least.
But this brings up the question.
Was this the Maple Leafs choking on the biggest stage after finally making it to the playoffs or is this the experienced Bruins playing until the final buzzer, never giving up hope. Did James Reimer forget how to stop a puck or did the Bruins' sticks finally find some twine.
And if you think it's the former, I think you're crazy.
Take a step back and ask yourself this.
At the beginning of the season, did you see the Maple Leafs making the playoffs? Did you think they could possibly string together a fine season and get into the postseason for the first time since 2004, let alone the 5 seed in the east?
Now go back a couple of weeks. Toronto's matched up with Boston in the first round. Did you honestly think the young Leafs' team can beat, or even contend with the Bruins in a playoff round? I sure as hell didn't.
Well the Leafs quieted us all with their magical, short-lived playoff run. Not many teams can keep up with the Bruins for 7 games.
And the only thing that stopped the Leafs from actually winning this thing was 10:42 and Patrice Bergeron.
Who woulda thought, however, that in front of a packed house in the TD Garden, it would be Toronto to go ahead 4-1 and controlling the play.
Yes, with 2 goals by defenseman Cody Franson and helpers by Kessel from Kadri and vice versa, it seemed Toronto was finally going to break out of their slump and cruise to a game 7 victory against their much heated rivals. Even after a Nathan Horton goal cut the lead to 2, things looked pretty grim for the Boston faithful.
In the final few minutes, Bruin fans were parading out of the arena, expecting the Bruins to crumble.
They didn't.
With no more than a minute and a half left, Milan Lucic tipped the puck in as the extra attacker to make it a one goal game (something he also did about 24 hours earlier).
At that point, things started to turn. You sensed the nervous feeling at one end of the ice with the spark of hope going on at the other.
The next play happened pretty quickly. Bruins got the puck deep. Rask went back to the bench. Then the Bruins got the puck and set up. And that's when you knew what was going to happen next.
And because I like talking about them, I figured the Hockey Gods had a hand in this one.
We were either going to see the Maple Leafs win this in overtime, making this win ever so sweet, not only giving the Bruins hope and taking it away, but showing resiliency.
Or
We were going to see the Bruins finish the comeback, continuing the emotional train ride Boston has been in the past few weeks.
And it was all in the Hockey God's hands.
 |
| That, ladies and gentlemen, is the look of disappointment |
A couple of shots, a mad scramble, a rebound off of a Maple Leafs' stick, and Patrice Bergeron buries the biscuit into the back of the net, sending the Bruins fans (who stayed) home happy and the many up in Toronto into a state of shock.
So there you have it. One of the best games you will see for another few years, at least.
But this brings up the question.
Was this the Maple Leafs choking on the biggest stage after finally making it to the playoffs or is this the experienced Bruins playing until the final buzzer, never giving up hope. Did James Reimer forget how to stop a puck or did the Bruins' sticks finally find some twine.
And if you think it's the former, I think you're crazy.
Take a step back and ask yourself this.
At the beginning of the season, did you see the Maple Leafs making the playoffs? Did you think they could possibly string together a fine season and get into the postseason for the first time since 2004, let alone the 5 seed in the east?
Now go back a couple of weeks. Toronto's matched up with Boston in the first round. Did you honestly think the young Leafs' team can beat, or even contend with the Bruins in a playoff round? I sure as hell didn't.
Well the Leafs quieted us all with their magical, short-lived playoff run. Not many teams can keep up with the Bruins for 7 games.
And the only thing that stopped the Leafs from actually winning this thing was 10:42 and Patrice Bergeron.
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