‘We want to be able to do that’: Maple Leafs’ Rielly admiring Blue Jays’ World Series run

And so he couldn’t help but admire as, just a few blocks west of his own arena, the Toronto Blue Jays authored a late-inning comeback to reach the World Series, sending Rogers Centre into pandemonium.

“We want to be able to do that and have a run like that. You look at the passion theyâ€re playing with and thatâ€s contagious,” Rielly said on Tuesday morning.

Rielly, 31, has been on the opposite end of those dramatic post-season games.

The longest-serving Maple Leaf, he’s been a part of every playoff defeat in the Auston Matthews era — none of which have come later than the second round.

Last season, Toronto came within one win of the conference final, only to fall short to the eventual champion Florida Panthers.

The defenceman said his team has been talking about the Blue Jays’ triumph all morning.

“You’re almost jealous at what they’re doing because they’re in Toronto and you watch it firsthand, youâ€re happy for them. It’s a great moment for the city. We want to be able to do that and have a run like that. We felt that when the Raptors did it (in 2019), too,” he said, per Terry Koshan of Postmedia.

Rielly’s Maple Leafs have often been criticized for lacking resilience throughout their post-season losses — a trait of which this Blue Jays team cannot be accused.

Ahead of Monday’s game, Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. entered the stadium wearing a Matthews jersey — a bad omen in the eyes of many Toronto sports fans.

Perhaps now, however, the curse is reversed.

“It’s an easy team to cheer for, the style they play, the depth. … It’s been a lot of fun to watch, and our guys have been supporting them,” Rielly said.

The Maple Leafs are back in action in Toronto on Tuesday as the New Jersey Devils come to town.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will play Game 1 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday at Rogers Centre (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, Sportsnet, Sportsnet+).

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