The series looked bleak for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they dropped Game 4 to the Boston Bruins, allowing the Bruins to take a 3-1 strangle hold on the Quarter Final playoff series. However, the Maple Leafs battled back in Game 5 and 6 winning both games by a score of 2-1 respectively, forcing a decisive Game 7. 

Half way into the final period, the Maple Leafs were in the drivers seat, with a commanding 4-1 lead; and a ticket into the second round.  The tides, however, would quickly change.

At 9:18 of the 3^rd period, the Bruins began their monumental comeback, with a goal from Bruins forward, Nathan Horton.  The Bruins then went on to tie the game with two goals in the final two minutes of regulation play, off several rebounds by Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer.

While Reimer was spectacular throughout the series, he struggled with rebound control.  However,  his defence was able to control these rebounds for most of the series—that is, until the final regulation period of the series, and in overtime.

At 6:05 of the overtime, off yet another rebound by Reimer, the Boston Bruins completed their historic comeback, winning the game 5-4, and the series 4-3.

“When you’re up 4-1 you’d like to be able to hold on to that lead,” Reimer said. “As a goalie, you want to step up and try to make one more save in that situation” 

Goaltending alone, however, was not the sole reason for the collapse. The Bruins successfully exploited the Maple Leafs defense, after being unable to do so earlier in the game.  Bruins captain, Zdeno Chara, was able to screen Reimer entirely, which lead to the game tying goal in the dying seconds of the game.

“We had a team down and out, and we just let them take over the game and climb out of a hole that they should have never came back from,” said Maple Leaf defenceman Dion Phaneuf.

This is the first time in NHL history that a team down three goals has come back to win Game 7 of a series, in overtime.

“They had us on the ropes, there were a team that believed in themselves. The run that they gave us was unbelievable,” Boston bruins coach Claude Julien said after the game. “As an opposing coach, I saw that team (Toronto Maple Leafs) get better and better. I’m glad we got rid of them, because they kept getting better.”

NHL Playoffs action continues.  Ottawa Senators are now the last Canadian team still in the hunt for Lord Stanley's Cup