For the second time in as many years, the Boston Bruins have eliminated the Maple Leafs from the NHL playoffs with a Game 7 victory.
Toronto lost Tuesday night’s do-or-die showdown in Boston by a score of 5-1.
The Leafs have now lost the last three playoff series they’ve played against the Bruins, going back to 2013.
There was hope that additions the Leafs made since the last time the Bruins ended their season would put them over the top.
Star centre John Tavares was signed as a free agent in the offseason and defenseman Jake Muzzin was acquired in a trade late in the season.
While the Maple Leafs outplayed the Bruins for stretches of this series, the outcome was the same.
The Leafs gave up two goals before the end of the first period and were never able to close the gap.
Tavares scored the Leafs only goal early in the second period to cut the Bruins’ lead to 2-1.
Toronto carried the play and pressed for the tying goal through the first few minutes of the third period, until Boston’s Sean Kuraly scored to make it 3-1 and stifled the Leafs’ comeback effort.
The Bruins will move on the play the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.