Re-Leafing History: Toronto Maple Leafs Worst Loss Happened 7 Years Ago Today

Today is the seven-year anniversary of when the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the 2013 NHL Playoffs.

Seven is supposed to be a lucky number, but for the Toronto Maple Leafs, May 13, 2013 still haunts Leafs Nation.

For hockey fans, the 2012-13 season was weird (kind of like this year). Instead of your typical six-month regular season, it was a 48-game sprint from January to April because of the lockout.

Despite a shortened season, Toronto Maple Leafs fans didn’t seem to mind, as their beloved team made the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs were a fifth seed heading into the playoffs, people joked throughout the city that this would obviously be the one year they won the Stanley Cup. Laughing that there would be an asterisk beside their name in the record book.

Personally, I couldn’t care less if the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup on the moon in front of zero fans. I just want to see it happen this before I die.

To recap the series, after losing Game 1, the Leafs stole Game 2 in Boston to get home-ice advantage back. I remember the excitement of Game 3 because it had been so long since the team had a home playoff game.

I couldn’t afford a ticket, but made my way to Maple Leaf Square (which is now Jurassic Park, thanks to the success of the Raptors) and watched Game 3 on the Jumbo-tron.

Going down 2-0 early, Jake Gardiner scored in the second period to erupt the crowd outside and give us hope, until the game got out of hand and the Leafs lost 5-2.

Game 4 was even more gut-wrenching when Toronto lost at home 4-3 in overtime, thanks to a terrible read by Dion Phaneuf. Going for the big hit (as per usual) Phaneuf created a 2-on-1 for Boston, where David Krejci scored a squeaker past James Reimer.

Down 3-1 in the series, the season felt over. Although it was fun to get playoff hockey for the first time in nine years, this just wasn’t our year.

Or maybe it was?

Reimer turned into Patrick Roy for Game 5 and 6 stopping 68 of 70 shots in two games and all of sudden the series was tied 3-3.

Alright, now it’s time to torture myself. Everyone who I’ve talked to about this thinks I’m crazy, but oh well.

For this fun experiment, I’ve decided to watch Game 7 again from start to finish, creating a running diary from the game, as I’ve tried to avoid highlights for the last seven years.

Wish me luck and read at your own discretion.

2nd Period

7:55PM: They just flashed a graphic saying that the team that scores first wins 73.8% of the time in Game 7. Hope that’s not true.

7:57PM: Just like clockwork, Nazem Kadri just got called for a penalty by almost injuring someone in the corner. His second penalty of the night.

8:00PM: Man, the Bruins are so much more talented than the Leafs and they’re showing it on this power-play.  Tyler Seguin, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Jaromir Jagr, Milan Lucic, Tuuka Rask and Zdeno Chara are arguably all better than anyone on Toronto.

8:08PM: A knuckle-puck by Franson and the Leafs are up 2-1! How the hell did this happen? They just showed Maple Leafs Square again, and the excitement in the city is electric. I miss playoff hockey so much.

8:11PM: Holy smokes the Leafs almost went up 3-1 right now. Jake Gardiner’s wrist shot had eyes, but Rask flashed the leather and robbed him. The Leafs are buzzing right now. Jack Edwards thinks the Bruins should call a time-out. I love this.

8:12PM: Looks like Dennis Seidenberg isn’t going to return, which means the Bruins are down to five defenseman. Are the Leafs actually going to win this game?

8:18PM: I forgot how underrated Mikhail Grabovski was. He probably should never have been a first or second line player, but in his prime he would have been perfect on today’s third line.

8:25PM: Phaneuf just did one of his classic moves. Lucic tried to fight him but he just took the punishment and let the refs call a penalty, so the Leafs go on the PP. Can’t blame him though. It would take at least $100K for me to think about fighting Lucic.

8:30PM: Trying to make a play in-front, Lupul just fell onto Rask in the crease, so he punched Lupul in the face! This is what playoff hockey is all about.

8:32PM: Chris Kelly and JVR fell on the ice and Kelly just gave him an elbow that ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage would be proud of him. Ouch.

8:40PM: The Leafs went on the PK and were able to deny the Bruins for the rest of the period, so they remain up 2-1 heading into the third. Huge third period coming up!

Third Period

9:00PM: Every stat the Bruins broadcast is showing says that the Leafs are going to win. I’m so scared to re-watch this period.

9:05PM: Maple Leaf Square is insane right now. Kadri just hit the post, but reliable Phil Kessel was able to get to the rebound and score into an open-net. The Leafs are up 3-1 right now with 18 minutes to go.

9:10PM: 15 minutes left and the buds look in control. I’m starting to forget why I’m doing a re-watch of this game. Is something bad going to happen? Sure doesn’t feel like it. When this quarantine is over, i think I’m going to visit Boston; seems like a beautiful city.

9:13PM: “The Leafs are running the Bruins out of their own building!” – Jack Edwards. Yes he really just said that, holy smokes!!! Kessel’s rebound kicks directly to Kadri and he jams it home. I don’t know what’s crazier to believe. The Leafs are up 4-1 with 14 minutes left or that Kadri actually played a full series and didn’t get suspended four games ago?!

9:17PM: Jack Edwards says “11:02 left in the season, unless the Bruins stage a miraculous comeback.” then 26 seconds later the Bruins make it 4-2. TD Garden is alive again, and my stomach is starting to turn. Also, Nathan Horton just scored. Remember when he got traded for David Clarkson? Man that guy was good before the injuries.

9:20PM: Even at 75-years-old (probably), Jaromír Jagr is dominating the Leafs down-low and almost scores a goal. I completely forgot that Boston was one of the eight teams Jagr played on in the NHL.

9:25PM: So there’s five minutes left and Toronto is still leading 4-2.

9:26PM: There’s four minutes left and Toronto is still leading 4-2.

9:27PM: OH MY GOD! Matt Frattin just had a breakaway and missed wide. Are you kidding me?

9:28PM: Good news though, there’s three minutes left and Toronto is still leading 4-2.

9:29PM: The Bruins have pulled Rask. There’s less than two minutes left and the Leafs are still winning 4-2. How the hell do they screw this up?

9:30PM: Ughhh. Reimer can’t hold onto a rebound and Lucic pots it home. 4-3 Bruins. Life is good though. Still up one with 1:22 to go. The Bruins call a time-out so they can get their all-star team back on the ice. The Leafs bench looks so scared.

9:31PM: You have to be kidding me. Even in a re-watch, I want to throw my computer off my balcony. TD Garden is going absolutely insane and Maple Leafs Square is shocked. The Bruins tie the game 4-4. Why did I do this to myself? Randy Carlyle looks like his head is going to explode right now.

9:32PM: Reimer just gave up a terrible rebound and the Bruins almost scored with 12 seconds left. I almost wish they did. It would speed up the process and take me out of my misery. The Leafs are tied 4-4 heading into OT, but there’s no hope. Flashbacks of OT are now starting to run through my head. Should I just turn this off now? I’m really not excited for OT.

Overtime 

9:55PM: After spending the last twenty minutes in a daze, wishing Frattin would have scored on that breakaway half hour ago, it’s time for OT.

9:56PM: Reimer is a mess. I’ve never seen a more scared goaltender in my life. On a scale of 1-10, if 10 is Carey Price calm, Reimer is a negative 10 right now. He’s praying the Leafs score before he screws it up.

10:00PM: The Bruins fans recognize Reimer’s pain and start chanting “Reimer, Reimer, Reimer.” This isn’t going to end well, is it?

10:02PM: I hate to keep picking on Reimer, as I’m no goaltender expert, but he looks so small in net right now. Every shot that Boston takes feels like it’s going to go in.

10:04PM: Seven years later and I’m still devastated and crushed. Bergeron wins it for Boston. On the ice for this goal were four potential Hall-of-Famers in Bergeron, Seguin, Marchand and Chara. Although I’m sick to my stomach watching this, it’s impressive to think Toronto actually almost won this series.

10:05PM: From one back-up to another, Ben Scrivens is now telling James Reimer it’s going to be OK. What a game.

For the 10 Leafs fans that actually followed along and relived the worst loss in history; thank you.

Although this was hard to relive, it was therapeutic.

I’m just praying that sports karma is on our side now and sooner than later the Leafs will be able to defeat Boston in a playoff series. Until then, I’m going to go cry myself to sleep. Good night.