Rosie DiManno: These Leafs should have been choke-proof. In the end, another Game 7 eclipse will haunt their dreams

Glitzy offence, a stabilized defence, a ripened superstar core. All erased in one godforsaken encounter with the lowly Habs, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: The archive of epic sports meltdowns already includes the Leafs. It’s history they have no intention of repeating

In the annals of sports, there have been incidents of failure, of nervous collapse, that rise to the level of tragedy. The Leafs are now 0-6 in elimination games in the era of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and facing another Game 7. The human factor, the doubts, can seize any individual, any team, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: Everybody knows the deal. The Leafs are on the ropes, hoping to avoid a Game 7 knockout

Four hundred and nineteen minutes into this infernal series and the Leafs are right back where they started. But it doesn’t feel like hockey equilibrium, not one bit. It feels like slouching toward disaster, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: And now the unease slips in as Leafs fail to close out Canadiens in Game 5

The Leafs’ killer instinct was, at best, inadequate. Or, more correctly, smothered by the Canadiens, Rosie DiManno writes. Desperation trumped conviction.

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Rosie DiManno: The Leafs’ parts come together as they take a commanding series lead over the Canadiens

Nylander gets fourth goal in four games, Galchenyuk takes a leading role against his first team, Spezza and Thornton combine on a vintage goal.

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Rosie DiManno: In Jack Campbell, the Maple Leafs trust. Two out of three ain’t bad

Campbell was better than his goalie idol, the Canadiens’ Carey Price, in Game 3 on Monday night — almost flawless as Toronto nailed a 2-1 W at the Bell Centre in Montreal, seizing a two-to-one edge in the best-of-seven series. Historically, teams that win the third game when tied 1-1 had a 223-107 record, or 67.6 per cent. Just sayin’, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: The Maple Leafs respond with a win of the must variety in Game 2

This version of the Leafs, more recognizable than the one that dropped the series opener against the Canadiens, was animated and flying from the get-go. Auston Matthews set the tone, taking the body at every opportunity, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: Carey Price: the man, the myth and the mystery the Maple Leafs will have to solve

The Montreal goaltender turned aside 35 of 36 shots in Game 1 against the Leafs, proving he can still come up big at the biggest moments.

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Rosie DiManno: Leafs’ Game 1 loss to Canadiens adds the insult to John Tavares injury

“We didn’t get him a win tonight,” forward Nick Foligno says after captain leaves on a stretcher. “That’s the part that stings the most.”

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Rosie DiManno: The Leafs’ past playoff failures are a motivation again, defenceman Morgan Rielly admits

“It weighs a lot,” Rielly says of not winning a playoff series.

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Rosie DiManno: The Maple Leafs will need Frederik Andersen but his audition is to be the team’s No.2 goaltender

Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has shown ample loyalty to Andersen but the playoffs aren’t a sentimental journey, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: For the Leafs, it’s hard not to look ahead to the playoffs. It’s all that really matters this season

The challenge the Leafs face is concentrating on what’s right in front of them rather than a week down the road, the second season, writes Rosie DiManno. Because there’s no excuses this time.

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Rosie DiManno: Leafs’ Auston Matthews a maestro around the net, scores two more against Canucks

Matthews has an NHL-leading 38 goals in what should be a Rocket Richard Trophy-winning season.

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Rosie DiManno: Jack Campbell returns and saves the Maple Leafs. Maybe he should be No. 1 in net

A shutout when last Campbell was seen in the net three weeks ago, and shutout redux in his restoration. Cool, composed, agitation-quashing. Just what the blue and white need more of, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: Hockey isn’t forever. Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson finds his sweet spot in rebound season

From journeyman to hero to free agent to Maple Leaf redux, Hutchinson has been pretty stalwart this season, helping to rewrite the narrative of the Toronto backup goalie boneyard, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: Frederik Andersen gives the Leafs what they need in the stat that matters most. The others aren’t so pretty

Andersen leads the NHL in goalie wins. He’s also overworked as usual, and is nowhere near the leaders in goals against and save percentage in a contract year. If you think he’s sweating it, you’re looking at the wrong guy, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: Auston Matthews adds truculence to his body of work. The Maple Leafs’ opponents are feeling it

Something clearly has quickened in Matthews, perhaps a slow-burning umbrage that opponents who can’t otherwise disrupt his skilful game should go for the wood and the elbow and the slyly illegal hit, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: Leafs’ Morgan Rielly is finding joy after so many disappointing endings

The longest-tenured Leaf survived the ugly years and has been at the front of the team’s turnaround. “When you’re winning, it’s just a joy to be at the rink,” he says.

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Rosie DiManno: Justin Holl, raised in hockey heaven, might be the Maple Leafs’ best defenceman so far

Numbers only tell part of the story, but Holl and Jake Muzzin have formed one of the NHL’s best defence tandems so far this season — and Holl has led the way. Just turned 29, success was a long time coming from humble beginnings in tiny Tonka Bay, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Rosie DiManno: The Maple Leafs claw out a victory in Calgary, with an assist from George Armstrong

Instead of the team’s usual pre-game conclave, the Leafs watched a montage paying tribute to the late Leafs captain George Armstrong. It was essential, coach Sheldon Keefe said, to remind everyone about Armstrong’s impact on the franchise, on hockey. Then they went out and found a way to win, Rosie DiManno writes.

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