“Fold the franchise” – NHL fans react as Maple Leafs suffer another Game 7 elimination against Bruins

David Pastrnak's OT winner in Game 7 eliminated the Maple Leafs from the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

“Fold the franchise” – NHL fans react as Maple Leafs suffer another Game 7 elimination against Bruins

Tyler Bertuzzi reacts after Maple Leafs Game 7 loss (Image via Imago)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This seems to have become the motto of the Toronto Maple Leafs as they lost another Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

The first-round series between the Maple Leafs and Bruins saw the pendulum swing in both sides as the Bruins started off strong before the Canadian side bounced back. In the final game of the series, the 13-time Stanley Cup champions endured yet another heartbreak as the Boston Bruins snatched victory in overtime.

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Having been 3-1 down in the series, the Leafs seemed to be on their way to pulling off a historic comeback as William Nylander broke the deadlock in the third period with around eleven minutes remaining. The Swedish international who scored both goals in their Game 6 win, pulled off a great team move with the returning Auston Matthews to put his team in the driving seat.

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The Bruins though found a way eventually. Hampus Lindholm scored just moments later after Nylander to take the game into overtime. In this period, the onus was on the top players to step up.

David Pastrnak, who was called out by his coach Jim Montgomery after the Game 6 loss, stepped up. The 54-year-old had urged the forward to step up in the playoffs and help his team out. Pastrnak would seize the opportunity from a long feed from Lindholm and scored within two minutes into OT to hand his side the win and eliminate the Leafs.

After the game, coach Sheldon Keefe would claim the team “beat themselves up” with their poor home performances in Game 3 and 4.

When teams play the Leafs, they set up the games for the Leafs to beat themselves. I thought we did that in Game 3 and 4, we beat ourselves with how we played at home.

Sheldon Keefe said in the post game conference.

Fans react to Maple Leafs’ elimination from 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs against Bruins

The elimination of the Toronto Maple Leafs from the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs has ignited a wide spectrum of reactions online from the fans, especially in the Stanley Cup betting landscape. Several of these saw fans trolling the team for failing to succeed and extending their Stanley Cup drought.

The elimination of the Toronto Maple Leafs from the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs has ignited a wide spectrum of reactions online from the fans. Several of these saw fans trolling the team for failing to succeed and extending their Stanley Cup drought.

Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins celebrating the OT winner of David Pastrnak (Image via NHL)

The Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the Original Six of the NHL, last won the Stanley Cup in 1967. Since then, the team has suffered several heartbreaks. This defeat was their fourth Game 7 loss in the past decade against the Bruins.

Following this loss several fans on X called out the players and Keefe and urged for their removal. Meanwhile, one fan claimed that the whole franchise should “fold” after this first-round exit.

Fold the franchise

One X user commented.

Check out that and some of the top reactions from X below:

The Bruins will now look forward to a rematch against the Florida Panthers. Last year, “The Cats” came back from 3-1 down to win Game 5, 6 and 7 and knocked out the Boston based side. They will be hoping to avoid a repeat of this.

As for the Maple Leafs, it’s time for them to go back to the drawing board. The futures of coach Sheldon Keefe along with ‘Core 4‘ members Mitch Marner and John Tavares are likely going to be the main topic of discussion in the upcoming days.

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