The Tampa Bay Lightning took on the Toronto Maple Leafs in a pivotal Game 6 matchup for the team Thursday, and won in dramatic fashion when star center Brayden Point scored in overtime.
This clutch goal forced the series to a Game 7 which will take place on Saturday, much to Toronto fans’ dismay. But while it was a disappointing result for the Maple Leafs, one notable Toronto native is likely extremely happy with the result.
Hip-hop icon Drake (seen above during a January Atlanta Hawks-Miami Heat game) cashed a bet on Thursday night on the Lightning and Maple Leafs series ending in seven games, which is now guaranteed to happen regardless of the winner on Saturday.
Drake wagered $400,000 on the series going seven games, and at +300 odds will take home $1.2 million following Thursday’s result.
The 35-year-old hip-hop artist has been known to make huge bets over the years, most recently losing $550,000 on Saturday night’s UFC Lightweight Championship fight between Charles Oliviera and Justin Gaethje.
Drake has been known to be a big figure in Toronto sports, working as a global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors (owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, also the Leafs’ parent company). It certainly must have been difficult for Drake to watch this game while his bet hinged on the Leafs losing in Game 6.
Many Toronto fans have taken to social media, blaming Drake for the Game 6 loss and saying that the “Drake Curse” is very real and took a big effect on Thursday’s game.
The Drake curse…it all makes sense now https://t.co/h0T48tueUY
— Maximum Chaos Enjoyer (@GustavHerwitz) May 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/pumpedUP28/status/1524962133238337537
DRAKE CURSE #LeafsForever #MapleLeafs #NHLPlayoffs https://t.co/gwHntk5vO9
— KULIŠ10 (@KULA1087) May 13, 2022
The Maple Leafs will have their chance to make up for their overtime loss on Saturday in Game 7. They currently sit as a -130 favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook to beat the Lightning.
[SportsbookReview; photo from Sam Navarro/USA Today Sports]