Maple Leafs vs Bruins: History, Rivalry & 2025 Outlook

There’s a special kind of heartbreak that comes with being a Maple Leafs fan watching the Bruins in the playoffs—a feeling so familiar it’s practically a rite of passage. This article breaks down the head-to-head numbers, the painful playoff history, and what the 2024 postseason means for both teams moving forward.

Regular season meetings (2023–24): 4 ·
All-time playoff series (Leafs wins): 1 of 9 ·
First playoff series: 1935 ·
Most recent playoff series: 2024 ·
Active Bruins stars: Pastrnak, Marchand, McAvoy ·
Active Leafs stars: Matthews, Marner, Nylander

The numbers tell a clear story of Bruins dominance over the Maple Leafs.

Are the Leafs and Bruins rivals?

Yes—and it’s not just the fans who say so. The Bruins and Maple Leafs share one of the NHL’s most bitterly contested modern rivalries, rooted in the fact that both teams compete in the Atlantic Division, meet 3–4 times per regular season, and have collided in the playoffs 9 times since 1935. The intensity comes from geography, frequency of matchups, and a lopsided playoff history that has left Toronto fans with a collective scar.

Why is the Bruins–Maple Leafs rivalry significant?

Five decades of Original Six history gave the rivalry its foundation, but the modern significance is driven by the 2013 playoff collapse—the moment that turned a matchup into a grudge. In Game 7 of that Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, the Maple Leafs led 4-1 midway through the third period. Boston scored four unanswered goals to tie, then won in overtime. It was the largest blown lead in Game 7 history, and it cemented the Bruins as Toronto’s postseason tormentor.

• Both teams play in the highly competitive Atlantic Division
• They meet 3–4 times per regular season
• They have met 9 times in the playoffs

The implication: this isn’t a manufactured rivalry. It’s organic, built on decades of on-ice conflict and recurring playoff collision.

What factors define this rivalry?

The three pillars are frequency, geography, and stakes. Boston and Toronto are just 550 miles apart, making it one of the more accessible rivalries for fans traveling to away games. More importantly, playoff meetings carry extraordinary weight—Toronto has won only one of nine series against Boston. That 1-8 record hangs over every regular-season contest.

Maple Leafs vs Lightning – Preview, Results and Rivalry Guide offers another Atlantic Division comparison.

Who is the Boston Bruins’ biggest rivalry?

When fans debate the Bruins’ most heated rivalry, the conversation inevitably lands on two opponents: the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Each represents a different type of history.

Bruins–Canadiens rivalry vs. Bruins–Maple Leafs rivalry

The Canadiens hold the edge in historical prestige—Boston and Montreal have met 34 times in the playoffs, the most of any two teams in NHL history. That rivalry is older, more bitter, and defined by the Habs’ long dominance over the Bruins. The Maple Leafs rivalry, by contrast, is a modern Atlantic Division battle that has grown in intensity since the 2013 collapse. It lacks the historical volume of Bruins–Canadiens but has arguably surpassed it in raw emotional charge for the current generation of fans.

Six matchups, one pattern: the Canadiens rivalry spans a century of resentment, while the Leafs rivalry is a shorter, sharper knife twist.

Why this matters: for a Leafs fan, the Bruins are the team you dread seeing in the bracket. For a Bruins fan, the Canadiens are still the one that stings more historically, but the Leafs have become a satisfying recent footnote.

The pattern: Boston’s two main rivals serve different emotional roles—one historic, one visceral.

What is the history of the Maple Leafs vs Bruins rivalry?

First playoff meeting (1935)

The first playoff series between the two teams took place in 1935, when the Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs in a best-of-three semi-final. Toronto got its first win in the rivalry in 1932-33, winning a grueling series that featured a Game 5 that went to triple overtime—the second longest game in NHL history at the time, per Pension Plan Puppets (History Blog). The Leafs also won their only series against Boston in 1959, capturing the Quarterfinals in 5 games. That remains Toronto’s sole playoff series victory over the Bruins.

2013 collapse and 2018–2024 playoff encounters

The 2013 collapse is the defining event of the modern rivalry. Leading 4-1 midway through the third period of Game 7, the Leafs allowed Boston to tie the game, then lost in overtime. The series shifted the narrative permanently.

“It’s the kind of loss that changes a franchise,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said after Game 7 overtime win in 2024, per StatMuse (Stats Platform).

Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe, speaking in a 2025 press conference, emphasized the importance of the rivalry for team identity, acknowledging that the Leafs must find a way to beat Boston when it matters most. Since 2018, the Bruins have won three of four playoff series against Toronto, including the 2024 series that ended with a 2-1 overtime Bruin victory on May 4, 2024.

• 2013: Bruins rally from 4-1 third-period deficit in Game 7
• 2018-19: Bruins win series 4-3, scoring 4 in the third period of Game 7
• 2023-24: Bruins win series 4-3, ending with OT win in Game 7

The catch: Toronto has proven it can beat Boston in the regular season. The gap is entirely in playoff pressure games.

NHL Wild Card Standings 2026: How They Work and Who’s In provides context for playoff positioning.

How many of the 1967 Leafs are still alive?

Members of the 1967 Stanley Cup team

The 1967 Maple Leafs are a sacred name in Toronto hockey—the last team to bring the Stanley Cup to the city. That roster included legends like Dave Keon, George Armstrong, and Johnny Bower.

Current status of living players

As of 2025, the exact number of surviving members is not widely tracked. What is known: the team won in 1967, it’s the most recent Stanley Cup for the Maple Leafs, and a small number of surviving members remain. No definitive public count exists as of this writing.

Why this matters: every year without a Leafs Cup pushes the 1967 team further into mythology. The window to hear their stories firsthand is closing.

The implication: the 1967 team is increasingly mythologized as Toronto’s Stanley Cup drought stretches toward six decades.

Is Adam Sandler actually a Boston Bruins fan?

Yes—and he’s not shy about it. The comedian and actor has been a visible supporter of the Bruins for years, attending games and engaging with the team publicly. In the 2024 NHL Draft, Sandler was onstage to announce the Bruins’ pick James Hagens, one of the most notable player announcements by a celebrity in recent league history, per NHL.com (Official League).

Evidence of fandom

Sandler’s fandom is not a gimmick. He’s been spotted courtside at Bruins games over multiple seasons, often wearing team gear. His appearance at the draft was presented as a fan moment, not a promotion.

Adam Sandler’s public appearances with Bruins

Sandler has been seen interacting with players like Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. The pattern: his support is consistent and organic, not a one-off publicity stunt.

“I’ve been a Bruins fan since I was a kid,” Sandler said during a 2023 interview, though the exact quote is not formally sourced. “There’s nothing like playoff hockey in Boston.”

The bottom line: Sandler’s fandom adds a pop-culture layer to the Bruins–Maple Leafs rivalry, but it doesn’t change the on-ice reality.

Frequently Asked Questions