Leafs Nation is heartbroken!  The Toronto Maple Leafs gave fans a glimmer of victory, as they skated to a commanding 4-1 lead against the Boston Bruins in game 7 of their NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal.  But then, the Bruins came back in a mind-blowing effort to not only tie up the game, but win it 5-4 in overtime.  Patrice Bergeron scored the winning goal at 6:05 into extra time.

Toronto’s Maple Leaf Square was packed last night as fans watched the game on a huge screen.  Afterward, the Bruins’ win left the faithful feeling stunned.  They dispersed quickly and peacefully, talking about dashed hopes while looking forward to next year.

Leafs’ goalie James Reimer has been a big reason for Toronto’s success this season. After the loss,  he was lost for words.  “There’s no feeling.  There’s no way to describe it, I think.  It’s just an empty feeling, really.  It’s over and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

While the Leafs lost to the Bruins 5-4 in overtime, the New York Rangers stunned the Washington Capitals 5-0 in game 7 of their Eastern conference quarterfinal.  It’s the first time the Rangers have won a game 7 on the road in the history of the franchise. The 6th seed New York Rangers now face the Boston Bruins in the second round. 

Canada’s Stanley Cup hopes now lie with the Ottawa Senators — the only Canadian team to make to the second round.  Game-1 of the Eastern semi-final goes tonight as Ottawa plays in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. The last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup was Montreal 20 years ago.