TORONTO — Sidney Crosby and his teammates touched down in Toronto late Saturday night.
The Pittsburgh Penguins had just flown in from Winnipeg after losing 5-2 to the Jets that day.
The club's superstar captain was focused as soon as the plane touched down, gearing up for the conclusion of an epic World Series.
However, things didn't go the way Crosby and many fans across Canada had hoped for a team that would capture national attention and give a new generation memories to cherish throughout the surprise run.
The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a devastating Game 7 loss in a winner-take-all contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two outs away from the franchise's first title since they went back-to-back in 1992 and 1993, the bullpen was unable to hold on to the lead.
The Jays, a group that has repeatedly retreated in tough moments, had plenty of opportunities to capture their first fall classic in 32 years before the Dodgers snatched the trophy with a 5-4 victory in 11 innings.
“I was rooting 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 too bad considering how it ended.
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“Anything can happen in Game 7.”
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The Leafs watched the World Series end on a flight home from Philadelphia after defeating the Flyers 5–2.
“It was heartbreaking,” Toronto center John Tavares said. “I think I can speak for a lot of people in town and the fans… I'm very proud of the type of team (the Jays are). And I think that's a big highlight – what kind of team it was and everyone's contributions and how they all relied on each other.”
Tavares added that the unified Jays were an inspiration despite their dreams being crushed early Sunday morning.
“They left everything there, they 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 played in six separate Game 7 defeats of the Stanley Cup playoffs, said the players were watching every pitch.
“It was hard,” he said. “I thought they won that game two or three times. It was crazy. But they did an incredible job just fighting and competing.”
Added Toronto's rookie forward Easton Cowan: “You feel for these guys. They gave it everything… bad rebounds.”
Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. donned the jersey of Canadian women's hockey legend Marie-Philippe Poulin before Game 7 at Rogers Center after donning Leafs captain Auston Matthews' jersey before the American League Championship Series finale against the Seattle Mariners.
“It was really cool,” Crosby, who is set to return to the Olympics with other NHL players at February's Games in Italy, said of the slugger who chose to wear Poulin's No. 29. “She's been so tenacious over the years. And he's been amazing throughout the playoffs, too, and continues to be.
“It was really nice to see that.”
Just like watching the Jays run for both regular fans and superstar athletes.
“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 it was a close-knit group by the way they played and how everyone contributed at different times. It was a lot of fun to watch.”
“Hopefully they would find a way to make it happen.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
