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The Leafs' exit from the playoffs was another 18-wheeler going right off a cliff. Sudden, shocking and final.

Up 4-1 over the Boston Bruins nine minutes into the third period of Game 7 Monday night, Toronto seemed destined to add to its history with a third straight win to seal a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the series. That hadn't happened for the franchise since the 1942 Stanley Cup final against the Detroit Red Wings.

But with a snarling Milan Lucic leading the way back for Boston, a stirring series comeback turned into total collapse.

Boston reeled off three straight goals -- including two with Tuukka Rask off for the extra attacker -- to tie the game at 4-4. Then Patrice Bergeron scored at 6:05 of overtime to cap a miraculous 5-4 recovery for a Bruins team that seemed to be on life support.

"They had us on the ropes," said a relieved Boston coach Claude Julien. "We're not going to sit here and lie."

The Bruins are the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 after trailing by three goals in the third period, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"It just seemed like we ran out of gas," said Toronto coach Randy Carlyle.

"Losing is tough and losing the way we did after a 4-1 lead, there's nothing you can say to explain how and why it happened," he added.

There will be a lengthy post-mortem once the emotions subside.

It had looked like two early goals by defenceman Cody Franson would be enough to propel Toronto into the next round. Up 2-1 to start the third period, Toronto got goals from Phil Kessell and Nazem Kadri to pad the lead to 4-1 by 5:39.

Nathan Horton, set up by Lucic, got one back at 9:18. Then Lucic made it 4-3 at 18:38 and Bergeron tied it up at 19:09.

Cue an unlikely overtime and chalk up the miraculous recovery for Boston as the Bruins blitzed the Toronto goal. The Leafs could not clear the puck and Bergeron snapped home a shot.

"It's one of the craziest ones I've been a part of," said Bergeron, who was held to one goal in the first six games before collecting two goals and an assist in Game 7.

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Prosecutors have demanded a six-year sentence and lifetime ban from public office at the latest trial of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

They allege he paid for sex with a 17-year-old dancer at his residence in 2010 and abused his term in office.

Mr Berlusconi, who is already embroiled in several court cases, was given a four-year sentence for tax fraud in October 2012.

He lost an appeal to overturn the conviction last week.

In the latest case, the prosecution in Milan said that women invited to his private residence for so-called "bunga-bunga" party evenings were part of a prostitution system set up for his personal sexual satisfaction.

The allegations focus specifically on his relationship with 17-year-old Moroccan girl Karima El-Mahroug, known as "Ruby the Heartstealer", whom he is accused of paying for sex.

Both she and Mr Berlusconi have denied the allegations.

Ms El-Mahroug says she did receive 7,000 euros (£5,900) but it was as a gift after a party.

However, Prosecutor Ilda Boccassini told the court during closing arguments on Monday that the young woman lied when she denied having had sex with the former prime minister.

She said Ms El-Mahroug had received more than 4.5m euros (£3.8m) from Mr Berlusconi between October and December 2010.

Mr Berlusconi is also charged with abusing his power of office after calling a police station to press for the release of Ms Mahroug from custody when she was arrested in Milan in a separate petty theft case.

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