![]() The Leafs returned from Florida with the intention of maintaining a sense of unity as the world around them seemed to be collapsing. “We lost the series in the first three games,” Keefe said conclusively after Game 5. Yes, the Leafs won Game 4, forcing the series back to Toronto and providing fans with a glimmer of hope. How did a season that seemed so promising just days earlier now feel like it was on the brink of collapse and ultimately, failure? How did a Leafs team known for producing offence continue to come up short in the first three games of the series, pushing them to the brink? The Leafs lost a must-win Game 3 in Florida and for the third game in a row had scored a measly two goals. These are the scenes of anger and sadness from the end of a series that could very well alter the future of the franchise. “We believe we had a team good enough to win the Stanley Cup,” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. But instead, an upstart Panthers team stopped the Leafs dead in their tracks. This is the beginning of the end for the Leafs as we know them: Īfter defeating the Lightning and winning a playoff series and then not having the Bruins standing in their way, the Leafs could see the road toward their ultimate goal. He left a room wrought with sadness and instability, as Simmonds will likely be one of many Leafs who will see their time in Toronto come to a close.įriday’s wild 3-2 overtime loss could end up marking the end of an era for arguably the most talented but equally disappointing core in franchise history. But as the clock slowly pressed toward midnight, Simmonds could only take what could be one last look at his dressing room stall before turning and exiting.
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