When everybody was ready to write off the Toronto Maple Leafs, the players had a different idea on Friday in Game 4 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Maple Leafs were 22 seconds away from an opening-round postseason exit for the fourth straight year when Zach Hyman's equalizer sent the game to overtime.
Hyman's tally was Toronto's third goal in 3:34 after the Leafs trailed 3-0 with under four minutes remaining. Auston Matthews then delivered the overtime dagger, and a winner-take-all Game 5 will now take place on Sunday night.
"I've never been a part of anything like that," said forward Jason Spezza, a veteran of 1,123 regular-season games and 84 postseason contests, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.
The Leafs' comeback over the Blue Jackets came just one night after they blew a 3-0 lead themselves. Toronto is now the first club in NHL history to overcome a deficit of three-plus goals after surrendering a lead of three-plus goals to lose the previous contest, according to NHL Public Relations.
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