Game 7s haunt: Memories of meltdowns linger

The agony of defeat. That is all the Maple Leafs and their fans have felt in Game 7s since they last won one in 2004.

MAY 13, 2013 Bruins 5, Leafs 4 (OT)

Few thought the Leafs of Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf would even win a game in the series. Yet there they were — without injured No. 1 centre Tyler Bozak — ahead 4-1 at 5:29 of the third period after a Nazem Kadri goal in Game 7. Boston’s Milan Lucic had a look on his face that suggested it wasn’t over. Nathan Horton scored at 9:18 to make it 4-2. Leaf Matt Frattin failed to convert on a breakaway. Then Boston pulled goalie Tuukka Rask with two minutes left and the deluge began. Lucic scored at 18:38, Patrice Bergeron at 19:09 and almost scored again before overtime, when he put it away at 6:05. No Leafs lead has felt safe since.

APRIL 25, 2018 Bruins 7, Leafs 4

The Leafs battled back after trailing three games to one to set up Game 7 in Boston. Two goals from Patrick Marleau, another from Travis Dermott and a brilliant breakaway marker short-handed by Kasperi Kapanen had the Leafs up 4-3 heading into the third period. This is where the narrative that Frederik Andersen is not a Game 7 goalie took root — Torey Krug, Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak scored in short order in the third to put the game away. Kadri picked up a game misconduct in the opener and was suspended for three games. Jake Gardiner was a minus-5 in Game 7.

APRIL 23, 2019 Bruins 5, Leafs 1

The Leafs had two chances to put them away, but a Game 6 loss at home set up another Game 7 at TD Garden. Kadri was suspended after a Game 2 hit on DeBrusk. John Tavares scored the Leafs’ lone goal. It never really felt like they were in the game. Coach Mike Babcock endured criticism for underplaying stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. “We’re a way better team than we were a year ago,” said the coach. “But we’re at the same point with the same result here today, and so that part is disappointing.”