Crosby and Leafs react to Jays’ crushing Game 7 loss

TORONTO – Sidney Crosby and his teammates landed in Toronto late Saturday night.

The Pittsburgh Penguins had just flown in from Winnipeg after a 5-2 loss to the Jets that afternoon.

The club’s superstar captain had a singular focus as soon as the plane touched down: tuning in to close out an epic World Series.

However, things didn’t go the way Crosby and many fans across Canada had hoped, with a team capturing the nation’s attention and giving a new generation of memories to cherish during an unexpected run.

The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a devastating Game 7 loss in the winner-take-all showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two outs shy of the franchise’s first title since back-to-back games in 1992 and 1993, the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead.

The Jays – a group that repeatedly backed away in tough moments – had plenty of chances to capture their first Fall Classic in 32 years before the Dodgers stole the trophy 5-4 in 11 innings.

“I was pulling for them,” Crosby said Monday before Pittsburgh’s game in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. “You just feel how much everyone wanted to see the win. And it’s a shame how it ended.”

“Anything can happen in Game 7.”

The Leafs had an edge-of-your-seat look at the conclusion of the World Series on their flight from Philadelphia after topping the Flyers 5-2.

“It was heartbreaking,” Toronto center John Tavares said. “I think I can speak for a lot of people in the city and the fan base… extremely proud of the type of team (the Jays are). And I think that’s the big emphasis: what a team that was, and everyone’s contributions, and how they all relied on each other.”

Tavares added that the close-knit Jays were an inspiration despite their dreams being crushed in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“They left it all out there, were very close,” he said. “Why it probably hurts and hurts a lot, because of how close they were, how well they played and how they put everything on the line.

“But overall just a great team.”

Leafs winger William Nylander, who was part of six separate Game 7 losses in the Stanley Cup playoffs, said the players followed every pitch.

“It was tough,” he said. “I thought they won the game two, three times. It was crazy. But they did an incredible job of just fighting and competing.”

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Toronto rookie forward Easton Cowan added: “You feel for those guys. They gave it everything…unfortunate bounces.”

Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wore the jersey of Canadian women’s hockey legend Marie-Philip Poulin prior to Game 7 at Rogers Center after wearing Leafs captain Auston Matthews’ jersey for the American League Championship Series final against the Seattle Mariners.

“That was really cool,” Crosby, who was set to make his Olympic return with fellow NHLers at the February Games in Italy, said of the slugger choosing to don Poulin’s No. 29. “She’s been so affectionate over the years. And he was great too, all through the playoffs, and it’s been that way.”

“That was quite nice to see.”

Just like watching the Jays’ run – for casual fans and superstar athletes alike.

“Such an easy team to root for,” said Crosby, whose first Cup win came in Game 7 over the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. “You could tell they were a tight-knit group just by the way they played and how everyone contributed at different points. It was a lot of fun to watch.”

“I was hoping they would find a way to make it happen.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2025.

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