Maple Leafs’ painful postseason drought continues with Game 7 loss to Lightning

The Toronto Maple Leafs had their best team in years, but they still were unable to shake a difficult streak that has been plaguing them.

The Leafs lost 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff series. The heartbreaking Game 7 loss means Toronto still has not won a playoff series since 2004.

The thing is, these Leafs are nowhere near the inept squad from 2006-16 that only made the playoffs once.

This team went 54-21 with 7 overtime losses. Auston Matthews had a 60-goal season. They had seven players with over 50 points, including Mitch Marner with 97 and William Nylander with 80. But on Saturday, the Leafs fell behind 1-0, tied things up in the second, and were unable to answer Nick Paul’s winning goal for the Lightning.

Toronto also had a goal waved off due to an interference penalty.

Making matters even worse, Toronto led 3-2 in the series before losing Game 6 in overtime in Tampa. Then they lost the heartbreaking Game 7 at home to continue their inability to close things out.