The Toronto Maple Leafs will never be able to outrun the “it was 4-1” meme, but this moment against the Tampa Bay Lightning surely has to feel good.
On Monday, the Maple Leafs erased a 4-1 deficit in the third period of Game 4 to force overtime with the Lightning. Toronto was able to score three straight times in the third, with two goals from Auston Matthews and the tying tally from Morgan Rielly to drag themselves back into the fight.
In case you’ve forgotten — or are new to hockey — the Maple Leafs infamously experienced coughing up a three-goal lead of their own a decade ago. Back in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Maple Leafs lost a 4-1 lead to the Boston Bruins in Game 7, instantly spawning the “it was 4-1” meme that Toronto has never been able to shake.
But now, thanks to Rielly, the Maple Leafs finally invoked “it was 4-1” on someone else for a change!
RIELLY TIES THE GAME FOR THE LEAFS. IT WAS 4-1 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ewl5PZ6Rf1
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 25, 2023
Considering this is the first time the Maple Leafs rallied from three down since the 1993 playoffs, this has to be a moment of catharsis for Toronto fans.
As expected, NHL fans had so many jokes after the Maple Leafs climbed back from a 4-1 deficit in Game 4.
IT WAS 4-1!!!!!!!!
— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) April 25, 2023
If we can pull off a reverse “it was 4-1” the curse is officially lifted
— ًًً (@twistedleafs) April 25, 2023
10 years later the Leafs played the uno reverse card on “it was 4-1”
— jen (@jennchesson) April 25, 2023
It was 4-1. The Leafs are an opera.
— Will Murray (@MurraWil) April 25, 2023
It was 4-1.
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) April 25, 2023
Hey the Leafs are on the other side of a "it was 4-1" situation for once
— Kat (@KattyCorner) April 25, 2023
The Leafs slaying their “it was 4-1” dragon to go all the way would be something
— BryanC9 (@Bryan_C9) April 25, 2023
Leafs did the it was 4-1 meme backwards
— . (@CareyPriceless) April 25, 2023
IT WAS 4-1 AND IT FEELS SO GOOD
— Stephen (@DTSB_98) April 25, 2023
