The Maple Leafs were eliminated in the First Round of the 2019 playoffs on April 23, after losing to the Bruins in a seven-game series.
(meta data) TITLE: Sports-no-CBC (meta data) PUBLISHED DATETIME: 2019-04-24T03:38:29.240Z SportsCBC SportsLeafs face another long summer of second-guessing after devastating Game 7 lossNHLScoresStandingsStatisticsTeamsPlayersInjuriesTransactionsDraftsOddsNHL·Analysis # Leafs face another long summer of second-guessing after devastating Game 7 loss The Stanley Cup drought will hit 52 years on May 2, the anniversary of the franchise's last championship in 1967. Toronto hasn't won a single playoff series since 2004. ## Toronto's window to win getting smaller as young players in line for big new deals Tim Wharnsby · CBC Sports · Posted: Apr 23, 2019 11:14 PM ET | Last Updated: April 24Toronto Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly and Frederik Andersen react after a goal is scored against them by the Boston Bruins during the first period of Game 7 on Tuesday night. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Another Toronto Maple Leafs season died in Boston and another long summer of second-guessing began on Tuesday evening. The last rites officially were given to the Maple Leafs at 9:33 p.m. ET as history repeated itself. The Boston Bruins were the victors in a critical Game 7 for the third time at TD Garden since 2013. GAME 7History repeats itself as Leafs eliminated by Bruins yet againHockey Night in Canada podcast: 20th anniversary of Gretzky's last game This outcome, a 5-1 decision thanks to a pair of late-game empty-net goals, was just as devastating as the third period collapses in 2013 and last spring. This Maple Leafs team had an improved roster. Rookie general manager Kyle Dubas added a talented free agent in 47-goal scorer John Tavares and a Stanley Cup-winner before the trade deadline in defenceman Jake Muzzin. WATCH | Bruins bounce Leafs in Game 7...again: For the second straight season, Boston used home ice to their advantage, eliminating Toronto with a 5-1 win on Tuesday night. 2:08 But the result was the same, another year of agony for the Maple Leafs and their faithful. The Stanley Cup drought will hit 52 years on May 2, the anniversary of the franchise's last championship in 1967. Toronto hasn't won a single playoff series since 2004. Mike Babcock's side was the better team through the first two periods. But the Maple Leafs found themselves behind 2-1 after 40 minutes. ## Andersen not sharp Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen was not sharp. In hindsight, he should have held on to the puck for a whistle on the first goal. But he moved it, leading to a giveaway from Maple Leafs defenceman Travis Dermott and a bad-angle goal from Boston's Joakim Nordstrom late in the first period. Marcus Johansson took advantage of a turnover from Dermott's defence partner Jake Gardiner a few shifts later to give Boston a 2-0 lead. "I thought we played real good until it was 3-1," Babcock said. "We carried lots of the play, we executed and played the way we wanted to play. "It's disappointing because I thought our series, compared to last year, we were a way better hockey club and we weren't rewarded. I think we're taking steps in the right direction. "It's disappointing for our group. It's part of the scars and pain you feel in building a franchise." Toronto head coach Mike Babcock thought his team wasn't rewarded despite playing a great series. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Babcock often talks about "the process" and "the opportunity" when discussing his team. But it was the Bruins who were opportunistic. Andersen certainly helped the opposition's cause with a poor outing after he played so well in the first six games of the series. The Nordstrom goal was weak. Bruins fourth-line forward Sean Kuraly caught Andersen napping on a 30-foot shot to make it 3-1 early in the third period. It didn't help matters that the Tavares line was at the end of a long shift and the Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey defence pairing had just hopped over the boards and were caught backing in. ## Window to win getting smaller Andersen now has a career 0-4 in Game 7s. But Babcock's recent record in crucial games is not good either. He has lost his last five potential series-clinching games, dating back to his days at the helm of the Detroit Red Wings. The Bruins, who will meet the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round, had a relatively stress-free finish after the Kuraly goal. Gardiner, who was playing hurt, finished a minus-three on the evening to push his plus-minus rating to minus-10 in his three Game 7s in Boston. The Maple Leafs power play also let Toronto down. It went 0-for-5 in the final two games of the series. You could see the disappointment on the face of Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan when television cameras spied on him late in the game. He and Dubas have built a young and talented team. But windows to win in the NHL are small these days because of the monster second contracts to young, talented players. Dubas and his management team have to figure out how to improve the roster and keep the key players under the constraints of the salary cap. Gardiner, Hainsey, fourth-line forward Tyler Ennis and backup goalie Michael Hutchinson are slated to become unrestricted free agents this summer. But the difficult negotiations will be with the trio of restricted free agents in Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson. This will play out in the days, weeks and months to come in what will be another long summer for Maple Leafs and their deflated fan base. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC SportsSend Feedback ## Related Stories GAME 7 History repeats itself as Leafs eliminated by Bruins yet againGAME 6 Bruins impose will on Leafs to force series back to BostonAnalysis No one is under more pressure to win than Mike Babcock Sorry, Canada — the Leafs are your last hope to bring the Cup home Hockey Night in Canada podcast: 20th anniversary of Gretzky's last gameVideo 9 things about Wayne Gretzky's last game...in 99 seconds Stanley Cup playoffs schedule and TV info ## Comments To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. 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Toronto Maple Leafs
Team history.:Brendan Shanahan era (2014–present).
In their second season under Babcock, Toronto secured the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot for the 2017 playoffs. On April 23, 2017, the Maple Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs by the top-seeded Washington Capitals four games to two in the best-of-seven series. 
 Toronto finished the 2017–18 season with 105 points by beating Montreal 4–2 in their final game of the regular season, a franchise-record, beating the previous record of 103 points set in 2004. They faced the Boston Bruins in the First Round and lost in seven games. Following the playoffs, Lamoriello was not renewed as general manager. Kyle Dubas was subsequently named the team's 17th general manager in May 2018. During the 2018 off-season, the Maple Leafs signed John Tavares to a seven-year, $77 million contract. Tavares was subsequently named an alternate captain for the Leafs, alongside Morgan Rielly and Patrick Marleau. On April 1, the Maple Leafs clinched a division berth for the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.