The Athletic provides live coverage of Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Maple Leafs are struggling, having lost 13 of their last 14 playoff games since Auston Matthews joined the team, often with blown leads. Fans are anxious as they head into a potential Game 7, recalling past heartbreaks.
Despite the pessimism, the article humorously suggests various scenarios for how the remainder of the series might unfold, each adding a twist to the Maple Leafs’ playoff narrative:
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Normal Collapse: Sticking to the familiar narrative, where the Leafs start strong but falter in critical moments.
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Blowout Loss: The Leafs lose decisively, eliminating any false hope among fans.
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Controversy: Introducing a controversial call that shapes the series outcome.
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Nostalgia: Remaking past playoff failures in a new context, evoking memories of previous collapses.
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Senator-Specific Irony: Highlighting past interactions with the Senators to add further drama.
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Goat: Focusing on a player who disproportionately bears the blame for the team’s failures.
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Big Finale: Going all out for an extravagant conclusion, bringing in over-the-top elements.
- Leafs Win the Series: Presenting a twist where the Leafs finally succeed, surprising everyone.
Overall, the article balances humor with a sense of inevitable disappointment, inviting fans to reflect on their turbulent playoff history while still hoping for a shift in fortunes.
