I sat down this morning with the intention of writing something positive about the Toronto Maple Leafs overtime loss to the Boston Bruins last night. As I write this, I think that’s going to be a tall order. My dad always said “accentuate the positive”, and I know that he was right. It’s the way he lived his life, and it’s the way I try to live mine.

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Windsor - May 14, 2013 - I sat down this morning with the intention of writing something positive about the Toronto Maple Leafs overtime loss to the Boston Bruins last night. As I write this, I think that’s going to be a tall order. My dad always said “accentuate the positive”, and I know that he was right. It’s the way he lived his life, and it’s the way I try to live mine. But geez, Dad, this morning it’s hard to find a silver lining.

In what can only be called a monumental third period collapse by my beloved Leafs, the Boston Bruins came roaring back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game, and then won in overtime. We had them. This game, and this series was ours. But we let it slip away. You shouldn’t lose a game this way. Call it inexperience, call it nerves, call it whatever you want. It doesn’t matter what you call it, because it’s over. We move on.

The Bruins iced a team depleted by injuries to their defense corps, and for two and a half periods, it showed. Up until the middle of the third, the Leafs did everything right. But when the Bruins scored their second goal, you could feel the momentum shifting. When they tied the game, the Boston crowd was in a frenzy, and you just knew that there was no way the Leafs could win this one.

Despite a better than expected season, making the playoffs for the first time in nine years, and some of the good things we saw along the way, there is no joy in Leaf Nation today. Yes, this team is going in the right direction, this experience will help next year, and the sun still rises in the east. But I can’t help feeling a little sad this morning.

Sorry Dad, that’s the best I can do today.

TC out.