The Toronto Maple Leafs really know how to put their fans through the wringer.
After years of playoff disappointments, you’d think Maple Leafs fans would be used to the epic highs and lows of Toronto hockey by now. And yet, on Thursday, the Maple Leafs found a new, agonizing way to lose a hockey game.
Headed into the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Maple Leafs were down 5-0 after actively being booed off the ice by their fans. Things weren’t looking great for the Maple Leafs when suddenly, the team started to wake up. Goals from William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Jake McCabe, and Auston Matthews quickly cut the Blue Jackets lead to 5-4.
And then, with less than a minute left in the third, Matthews tied the game 5-5 to send it to overtime!!
AUSTON MATTHEWS ARE YOU KIDDING?! pic.twitter.com/CA67wRIaqK
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 15, 2023
But unfortunately, even though the Maple Leafs got themselves back in the game to force a miraculous overtime, the Blue Jackets stole the win in the extra time off Kent Johnson’s tally.
Kent Johnson was feeling it tonight! 🔥
He caps off the first three-point performance of his career with the @Energizer overtime winner! pic.twitter.com/OmtKpjMTmz
— NHL (@NHL) December 15, 2023
That right there is the Maple Leafs experience in a nutshell. Absolute agony as they dig themselves into a hole, a spark of hope as they make an inexplicable comeback, then back to misery as they lose.
At least this was a regular season game — where the Maple Leafs got a point in the standings no less! — and not in the playoffs. Silver linings, perhaps?
NHL fans, on the other hand, were stunned at this latest catastrophic Maple Leafs loss after engineering a five-goal third period comeback.
I'm ready for MAXIMUM HEARTBREAK*
*A Toronto Maple Leafs product
— Flow Jerguson (@joeyferg) December 15, 2023
Never a dull night for the Toronto Maple Leafs
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 15, 2023
The Toronto Maple Leaf Experience.
— Jesse Rubinoff (@jesserubinoff) December 15, 2023
— Elena Hudgins Lyle (@elenahasacamera) December 15, 2023
This is the most Toronto Maple Leafs game I’ve ever watched in my life
— Johnny Giunta (@JohnnyGiunta_) December 15, 2023
The Maple Leafs coming back from a 5-goal deficit in the third period only to lose in overtime is a script we all saw coming.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 15, 2023
Watching the Toronto Maple Leafs: pic.twitter.com/liradWm0Ka
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) December 15, 2023
The Maple Leafs overcoming a 5-goal deficit in the third period just to lose in overtime is hilarious 😂
— Scott Reichel (@ReichelRadio) December 15, 2023
This team will be the end of me. @MapleLeafs 😭
— Canadian Gal (@mtenbroek) December 15, 2023
this is what being a maple leafs fan is like pic.twitter.com/fxzAVsKmx2
— morgan (@morgyoo) December 15, 2023
