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TSN Toronto Maple Leafs Reporter

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TORONTO – Several minutes after the Toronto Maple Leafs’ dream season finally ran out of steam, the chants from the crowd could still be heard emanating into the bowels of Air Canada Centre.

Go Leafs Go. Go Leafs Go.

As the three words rained down over and over, the Maple Leafs were occupied in the handshake line with the Washington Capitals. The Presidents' Trophy winners were victorious in Sunday’s Game 6 by a 2-1 score in overtime to win the first round series 4-2 and start the clock on Toronto’s offseason. Frederik Andersen was sensational in net, and Toronto went toe-to-toe with the league's best team until the final buzzer, but their performance was a couple costly mistakes away from being able to force a decisive Game 7.

But the final score was only one part of the Leafs story. For the first time in years there's even more genuine hope and excitement for what comes next than anything that was accomplished this season.

“The loss is tough for sure, but when we got in here and looked at each other, there’s a lot of pride that can be taken,” said Morgan Rielly. “Each guy is motivated to be here, and work hard and make this team better. We believe this is just the start. We have goals for the future. We’re going to continue to grow, continue to get better and see how far we can take it.”

In a series defined by tightness – five of the six games played went to overtime, each was decided by one goal – Sunday’s finale may have been the closest of all. After 40 minutes, neither side’s potent offence had lit the lamp, as goaltenders Braden Holtby and Andersen stood on their heads making one great save after another.

When Auston Matthews finally broke through with a goal, it was set up by a Rielly dump-in that bounced off a stanchion and practically right onto Matthews’ tape, there for him to bury. Toronto’s lead was short-lived though, as Washington responded with what may have been their best hockey of the series. Marcus Johansson capitalized on a Toronto turnover in the neutral zone to tie the game five minutes later, and then he potted the overtime winner 6:31 into the extra frame after the Capitals absolutely dominated the Leafs in every facet of the period.

“You’re disappointed for sure. They were way better than us in overtime I thought,” said Mike Babcock. “From our perspective, we got to play a really good team, a really well-coached team, real good players. Got to find out where we’re at and where our players are at. Until you’ve been through playoffs with players, you don’t really know the level of the player you have. You learn a lot about your team.”

Babcock declined to go into specifics about what exactly he picked up about his group, saying he may reveal his findings during the team’s exit interviews on Tuesday. He did, however, single out the Leafs’ young guys and how good they were. Matthews would easily be at the top of that list, scoring in four straight playoff games to tie yet another rookie record held by Wendel Clark. Nine of the 16 goals scored by Toronto in this series came from its rookies.

In the end, it may have also been their youth that allowed the Capitals to advance. When push came to shove, Washington made good on their chances, and on more of Toronto’s miscues. The Maple Leafs let too many opportunities slip away, and they knew along the way it could come back to haunt them, but still claimed to believe the series' outcome could go their way.

The Capitals perennially underachieve in the playoffs, and in the waning moments of Sunday’s game they executed like a team that knows it’s window is rapidly closing, while Toronto has only just been cracked open.

“It’s not the best feeling, but I think we gave it our all, we left it all out on the ice and every one of us is proud of each other,” said Matthews. “We have a bright future. We played hard, grinding hockey against the best team in the league. I think we definitely gave them all they could handle. We’re going to hold our heads up high.”

“I think we’re proud of the way we worked, we’re proud of the way we played for the most part, and that’s that,” added Rielly of Game 6. “The only scale in here we really have is work ethic and commitment to the team and playing the right way, playing the way we want to play.”

Coming into this season, expectations for the Maple Leafs were about as low as last year’s 30th-place finish. Prevailing wisdom seemed to be that if they could simply have meaningful games to play in March, the campaign would be a success. Looking back, Nazem Kadri cited that 12-3-1 stretch Toronto used to make postseason as the most memorable part of the whole season. It showed what the Maple Leafs will be capable of in 2017-18. They were a surprise in this go-around, a great underdog tale of gumption and heart.

No matter how difficult Sunday’s loss feels to them, when the next NHL season begins, no one will be underestimating the Maple Leafs.

“It's an empty feeling. We've grown a lot and have a lot to be proud of, but very tough feeling right now,” said Andersen. “It's awesome to be in this community, to be part of this team. The support we have here is unbelievable. There’s a lot to build off, but it's tough [now].”