One of the greatest regular seasons in Toronto Maple Leafs history has come to an end in disappointing fashion.
The Maple Leafs fell 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 Saturday, extending a woeful streak of clinching-game losses and sending Toronto into an off-season full of questions.
Nick Paul, a longtime Ottawa Senator, was the hero for the Lightning — scoring his first two career playoff goals in the contest. Morgan Rielly was the only goal scorer for the Maple Leafs.
The loss marks the sixth-straight season the Maple Leafs have failed to win a round in the playoffs with their current core of stars, with the past five losses coming in winner-take-all final games. But this one will hurt just a little more after Auston Matthews scored 60 goals and the team set a franchise record with 54 wins during the regular season.
With the win, the Lightning will now continue their title defence again state-rival the Florida Panthers, who eliminated the Washington Capitals in six games in Round 1.
