You just had to feel it. At some point during last night's game in Boston, you just knew, in the dark corners of your mind, that the Toronto Maple Leafs weren't quite ready for prime time. Something was going to happen in the last ten minutes to spoil the party. It was, some say, inevitable that the young, fresh, confident upstarts from Toronto would be taught a lesson by the grizzled, battle tested veterans from Boston. Of course, you didn't want to believe it, not after having witnessed 50 minutes of sensational, shut down, nose to the grindstone hockey. You allowed yourself a smile, a fist-pump, a nod and a wink to your comrade in blue and white. And then it hit you. The inevitability morphed into stunning reality. That sickening feeling at the bottom of your gut, the one you tried to chalk up to too many beers, hit you hard. Like a Milan Lucic bodycheck. It knocked the wind out of your sails, and those of the entire Maple Leafs Armada. For a while we thought the Leafs had overcome the inevitable, when in reality, they only delayed it.
Yes, playoff experience matters, and it's something the Leafs will have plenty of next spring when they (hopefully) compete again for Lord Stanley's prize. Lupul, Kessel, Gardiner, Reimer, Kadri, coach Carlyle and the rest of them will have the long summer to think about what they accomplished, and what they need to do for future success. This past season was beyond what any Leaf supporter expected. Pointing the fingers of blame for last night's meltdown won't do anybody any good. It's natural to blow off steam after such a heartbreaking defeat. Think about it. The Leafs took Boston to overtime in the 7th game. That's really all you need to remember. The taste of success was delicious this season. Savour it. The pain of losing will subside and eventually give way to the anticipation of future viewing. This team looks like it's going places.
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