PITTSBURGH — Phil Kessel had been through this gutwrenching torture before.
On May 13, 2013, Kessel’s Maple Leafs held a 4-1 lead over the Boston Bruins with 11 minutes remaining in the third period of Game 7.
Cue the collapse.
Indeed, the Bruins reeled off three straight goals, including two with Tuukka Rask off for the extra attacker, to knot the game the game at 4-4. That set the stage for Patrice Bergeron, whose winner at 6:05 of overtime completed the miraculous comeback for Boston.
A three-goal lead in an elimination game. Gone. But certainly not forgotten by Kessel and his disheartened teammates.