The 2021-22 season ended in heartbreak for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unfortunately, it is the sixth season in a row the team has exited the playoffs early.
The first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning could have gone to either team. That is how close that series was. the Toronto Maple Leafs took the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions to a seventh game to decide the series. That should be viewed as an accomplishment even though they lost.
The series defining seventh game came down to just one goal. Toronto had a goal by John Tavares called back due to a penalty call.