Drake Loses $1M Bet, Blames Justin Bieber Curse for Maple Leafs' NHL Playoff G7 Loss

After the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-1 blowout loss to the Florida Panthers in Sunday's Game 7 of the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, one of the city's favorite sons tried to deflect the blame from himself.

Known for causing bad luck with his sports bets, hip-hop star Drake still brazenly placed a $1 million bet on his hometown Maple Leafs for Sunday's game. After Toronto's loss, Drake jokingly blamed pop star Justin Bieber for being the real curse that doomed the team, as he was in attendance to watch the game:

The Maple Leafs failed to get anything going on Sunday, with their lone goal coming early in the third period when they were already down 3-0, with Max Domi finding the back of the net. It didn't make much of a difference, as the Panthers tacked on three more goals in the final frame. It was a disappointing ending for a Toronto team that won the Atlantic Division with a 52-26-4 record.

This is far from the first team that Drake has brought bad juju to with his sports betting decisions. His wagers have typically resulted in significant losses in major moments, so it's hardly a surprise that the Maple Leafs were unable to break the curse.

Toronto hasn't made it to a Stanley Cup Final since winning the championship in 1967. That run of futility is unlikely to end while Drake is still wagering in favor of the team.

The Panthers are playing in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third consecutive season. The reigning Stanley Cup champions will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round, with Game 1 set for Tuesday. Both teams will certainly be hoping that Drake keeps his money to himself as they chase a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.