May 13, 2013; Boston, MA USA; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer (34) lies in the goal crease after being defeated by the Boston Bruins in OT in game seven of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan this game is going to sting for quite some time. With just over 10 minutes left the Leafs held a 4-1 lead over a deflated Boston Bruins team. Toronto looked to be in good shape until a Nathan Horton goal started a late game meltdown of epic proportions.

Once the Bruins made it 4-2 the Leafs seemed to lose their aggressiveness and let Boston dictate the entire play. Goals by Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron sent the contest to overtime, and then Bergeron won it early on in the extra frame. The Leafs had a golden opportunity to take advantage of a depleted Bruins defense. Andrew Ference and Wade Redden didn’t play because of injuries, and Dennis Seidenberg only lasted one shift, Toronto couldn’t capitalize though.

Here are some things that stood out from the game.

Cody Franson

Franson chipped in with two goals tonight and may have been the hero had the Leafs been able to pull it off. He’s had a strong season and as a RFA the Leafs need to lock him up this summer. The pair of Franson and Jake Gardiner really clicked against Boston and it will be nice to see what they can do for an entire campaign.

Phil Kessel and Nazem Kadri

Kadri finally broke out of his goal scoring slump and the two combined for two goals and two assists on this night, but it wasn’t enough. Leaf fans should be encouraged though that both Kessel and Kadri have a decent chemistry together. With Tyler Bozak now a UFA, Kadri very well could become the team’s number one centre and play heavy minutes alongside Kessel next season.

Matt Frattin’s Miss

With the Leafs leading 4-2 Frattin broke in on a breakaway late in the game. He made a great move and had Tuukka Rask beat, but wasn’t able to elevate the puck. Had he been able to find the back of the net at that point, the Leafs would have taken much of the momentum back and likely would have sealed a win. Then again, with the way the played in the third period, who knows?

The Collapse

The Leafs finally started showing their age late in the third period. One of the youngest teams in the league wilted under the pressure of closing out a series. Blowing the lead was one thing, but Toronto looked stunned and in a haze even during the overtime. The Bruins on the other hand squandered a 3-1 series lead and were almost down and out in Game 7, but their experience came through and they rallied for the win.

As tough as this is for the organization and fans to digest, this may be the best thing to happen to this inexperienced squad. The Leafs now understand the agony of defeat and what it actually takes to put a team like the Bruins away. Hopefully they learn from this and come back stronger in 2013-14. Let’s not forget the strides and growth this group made this year.

May 12, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins forward Rich Peverley (49) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri (43) before a face off during the first period iin game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

In any Game 7 scenario there is typically a hero that emerges to send their team to a memorable victory. Tonight’s clash between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins will be no different. The Leafs will be looking to ride momentum and complete a comeback from 3-1 down, while the Bruins will be hoping for someone to step up and give them some life.

In these situations, players that have an impact can range from household names, to role players that quickly make a name for themselves. In this series it would surprise no one if the David Krejci, Milan Lucic, and Nathan Horton line stepped up to carry the Bruins to the next round. Or conversely, Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, and James van Riemsdyk wouldn’t shock anyone if they turned in a difference making performance.

Let’s look at a few other candidates though that could easily make an impact.

James Reimer and Tuukka Rask

Both goalies have been great in the series and chances are whoever plays better tonight will come away with a win. Reimer is the main reason Toronto was even able to force a seventh game, and Rask has been almost unbeatable this series without generating any chaos in front of him. Each will have another opportunity to steal one on Monday.

Mikhail Grabovski

Grabovski has been skating well all series, but has yet to find the back of the net. His ability to break out of a lengthy scoring slump could be directly correlated to a Leaf win. If Tyler Bozak remains out, Grabovski’s contribution in the face-off circle will be pivotal as well.

Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand

Neither Seguin nor Marchand have scored during the series and their play in recent games must be concerning for Bruins fans. Game 1 and 2 saw Seguin generate plenty of chances, but the two have looked almost non-existent since then. The problem for the Leafs is that if they can get one, you get a feeling the flood gates could open with multiple goals and the two have the ability to take over a game.

Nazem Kadri

Kadri only saw 10 minutes of ice-time in Game 5, but rebounded in Game 6 with a strong effort and was rewarded with an assist on Dion Phaneuf’s opening goal. Much like Grabovski, he has been struggling with his offensive touch as well and the Leafs need a big game from him tonight. Will Game 7 finally be the moment he snaps out of the slump and finds the score sheet?

Jaromir Jagr

Jagr has been a nightmare in the Leafs’ end all series and has shown to still have the ability to protect the puck with the best of them. Toronto’s defense has struggled to contain him down low and Jagr has been a threat to score almost every time he has been on the ice. His playoff experience will be valuable tonight.

Jake Gardiner

Gardiner has finally been freed and it only took injuries to Mike Kostka and Mark Fraser for Randy Carlyle to realize that needed to happen. His patience with the puck has really made a difference in the last few games of the series and he has a unique ability to create offense like no other Leaf blue liner can. If he once again gets heavy minutes tonight then Toronto should be able to keep the Bruins defense on its heels.

Wade Redden

Redden has been in plenty of playoff battles with the Maple Leafs over the years and had a good hand in the Bruins Game 1 win with a goal and an assist. A depth player often finds a way to score a big goal when it comes to a Game 7 and the Bruins will be hoping Redden fills that role tonight.

Joe Colborne

Colborne had an impressive performance in Game 6 as he saw his first action of the series. He filled in for an injured Bozak and looked pretty confident in his 15 minutes of ice-time. Despite spilling the beans about Carlyle’s plan to play him all along, Colborne could be thrust into action again tonight, and would love nothing more than to help eliminate the team that drafted him in the first round back in 2008.