If you’re a Maple Leafs fan, today is a pretty good day.
A great day, in fact.
With their backs against the wall, pushed to the point of elimination at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off the unthinkable: they came back from a 3-0 deficit to rally in the dying minutes of the third period, and then win it in overtime to force a series-deciding Game Five.
A lot to unpack, to say the least.
Where did this game turn around for the buds? Is it simply William Nylander’s goal to make it 3-1? Was it Morgan Rielly breaking his stick on the bench and showing some serious intensity?
Maybe, but lots of people attest the victory to an unlikely hero: veteran Jason Spezza, his heart. and his absolute unwillingness to lose.
Spezza, a former first liner who came to his hometown on a team-friendly, league minimum deal in what couple be his last tries to retire a Stanley Cup Champion, dropped the gloves at the end of the second period.
Spezza described the fight after, explaining exactly what he intended to do: create a spark to ignite his bench.
That, he definitely did.
In the words of Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, he simply refused to go down without a fight.
Of course, fans, teammates, and pros loved the heart showed by the veteran.
What a moment for Spezza, the team, and Leafs fans everywhere.
