Will the Maple Leafs crash again?
The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off quite the feat on Monday night in Tampa. They now lead 3-1 in their series. The question on everyone's lips: will they be able to finish the job to move on to the second round?
The Torontonians haven't won a series since 2004. By then, they had beaten the Ottawa Senators in seven games.
Since that night, the Maple Leafs have not been out winners of a fight. Seven defeats in the first round, including six that went to the limit. A bad luck that is quite difficult to explain.
By car, but…
Getting a fourth victory in a series is always difficult. An old cliché that comes up in the news every spring.
Sheldon Keefe's club have had the opportunity to knockout their opponents for the past two years. He failed every time. The Lightning and the Canadian got up before overthrowing them in a final game.
What will be the scenario against Tampa Bay in the coming days? Difficult to predict because of the Leafs' setbacks in recent seasons.
On the other hand, if they pass in the second round, they would end a drought of 19 years. Their fans could breathe a sigh of relief after experiencing many disappointments and frustrations over the past two decades.
The curse of the Maple Leafs since 2004
2012-13: Lost in seven games against Boston. The Leafs are coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. In the seventh game, the roof falls on their heads. They escape a 4-1 priority and the game in overtime (5-4).
2016-17: Lost in six games against Washington. A series where the Torontonians lost not one, two, but three games in overtime.
2017-18: Lost in seven games against Boston. They caused Game #7 with two straight wins. In the final match, they led 4-3 after two periods. Once again, they were crumbling under pressure, allowing four unanswered goals in the third period to save themselves with the victory and the series.
2018-19: For the third time in six years, the Maple Leafs lose a game against Boston. Still in seven meetings. This time, in the last game, the Bruins won convincingly, 5-1.
2019-20: Lost in five games against Columbus. Another loss on the verge of a series.
2020-21: Lost in seven games against the Canadiens after leading 3-1. Two losses in overtime in games 5 and 6. The first after an error by Alex Galchenyuk on the blue line and the second despite a good comeback in the third period. In Game 7, they saw Brendan Gallagher and Corey Perry give the Canadiens the lead en route to a 3-1 loss.
2021-22: Lost in seven games against Tampa Bay. Again, they leave a lead in the series. This time they were leading 3-2. In Game 7, Nick Paul hurt Toronto with two goals in a 2-1 loss.
In the news in 2004, the year of the Leafs' last playoff victory
January: Launch of the iPod Mini.
February: Mark Zuckerberg launches, for Harvard students, The Facebook which will become Facebook.
February: The Barbarian Invasions by Denys Arcard wins three Césars, Five Jutras and the Oscar for best foreign language film.
March: Stephen Harper becomes chef of the Conservative Party of Canada.
May: Loco Locass launches the song Libérez-nous des Liberals.
August: Loto-Québec draws the biggest prize in its history at 6/49: $29 million. (It is now $70 million)
September: The Expos play their last game in Montreal before moving to Washington.
October: Mirabel airport closes permanently.< /p>
October: The Boston Red Sox win the World Series for the first time since 1918.
November: George W. Bush is elected to a second term as President of the United States .
November: The Charlotte Bobcats become the 30th NBA team.
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About The Author
Wilson
Rob Wilson has been a reporter on the news desk since 2013. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining The Gal Times, Rob wilson worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my rob@bobrtimes.com 1-800-268-7128