On April 29, the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in overtime to win their first-round NHL playoff series 4-2. It was a monumental achievement for the Leafs, who had not progressed past the first round of the playoffs since 2004. While the Leafs had made the playoffs every year since 2017, they were eliminated in the opening round every time. The post-2004 drought also included 7 consecutive seasons where the Leafs missed the playoffs entirely.
The city of Toronto was awash with jubilant hockey fans, celebrating the team's win. The win was especially sweet given the Lightning eliminated the Leafs in the first round last season. Among the celebrating fans was Drake, the Toronto-born rapper and die-hard Leafs fan. Drake has never been shy about his hockey fandom. Furthermore, his OVO clothing brand has previously collabed with the Leafs.
Drake Shares Emotional Post On Instagram
A year ago, Drake posted a "goodnight Tampa" message on Instagram right before the Leafs choked a game-seven loss. Now he had reason to celebrate. Taking to his Instagram story, Drake posted a picture of a video of raucous celebrations in Toronto. He included an emoji whose eyes are welling up with tears. The rapper was not in attendance, instead performing in Chile. Drake, born October 1986, has never seen his Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Finals. The closest they have come in his lifetime is a 4-3 loss in the 1993 Conference Finals. The Maple Leafs will face the winner of the Bruins-Panthers series, which concludes on Sunday.
Drake recently took flak in another Toronto sports matter. When the Toronto Raptors were downed by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Play-In. Some people blamed Drake. “That’s on Drake, really. If you don’t have Drake and if that doesn’t work the niceties of offering her things to make her stop shrieking, you get physical. You get her out," radio host Pat Boyle said of DeMar DeRozan's daughter. Boyle would go on to tweet “Explain yourself @Drake why weren’t you there last night? The Raptors loss is on you for not incentivizing Diar DeRozan to be quiet during free throws."
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