tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Special Time When Leafs Are In The Playoffs

As the clock wound down in Ottawa on Saturday night and the Leafs were on their way to clinching a playoff spot for the first time in 9 years, I began to think about how special it is when the Leafs make the Stanley Cup Tournament. My first playoff memory goes back to the 1968-69 season where the Leafs would be squaring off with the Bobby Orr-led Boston Bruins. A Leaf playoff tradition began that year when my grandmother made blue ice cubes for Game One.(the tradition will continue next week) She, along with my brother and I, had a Seven-Up with our blue ice cubes in honor of the Leafs. Unfortunately, things didn't turn out well as the Bruins swept the Leafs 4-0 and as a result Punch Imlach was fired.

The next Leaf playoff series that sticks out in my mind was the 1970-71 series against the New York Rangers. The Leafs had a 2-1 lead in the series and I was convinced that they were going to knock out the Rangers behind the goaltending of Bernie Parent and Jacques Plante. The series had a wild game at Madison Square Garden where a bench clearing brawl broke out and Parent's goalie mask was thrown into the crowd by Ranger Vic Hadfield. Parent didn't have another mask so Jacques Plante had to finish the game. The Leafs won the game but eventually lost in 6 games, losing the last game in overtime on a Bobby Nevin goal that beat Jacques Plante. The loss resulted in a heated discussion between me and my Dad who was a Ranger fan the next evening at the dinner table.

The 1975-76 season saw the Leafs take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs. The year before the Leafs gave the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Flyers all they could handle taking the series to 7 games. This time around, Leaf Coach Red Kelly invoked Pyramid Power to give his team the edge over the Broad Street Bullies. As a result, we constructed our own blue and white pyramid and we placed the Stanley Cup from our table top hockey game inside. Again another seventh game and another Leaf loss. The pyramid was smashed to pieces but the Cup was saved.

The 1977-78 playoffs saw the Leafs take out the Los Angeles Kings in the preliminary round. I remember Game One was in L.A. and Tiger Williams was taking on everyone who wanted to go. The Leafs would advance to take on the New York Islanders and would win an exciting Game 7 in New York when Lanny McDonald scored the overtime winner. I was watching the game at my cousin's house with a bunch of Leaf fans and the place exploded. Found out a few days later from my cousin that the neighbors weren't too happy. The Leafs would eventually lose four straight to Montreal with the last game decided by a Cam Connor goal in overtime.

The 1982-83 playoffs had the Maple Leafs taking on the Minnesota North Stars. This series marked the first time that I would attend a playoff game at Maple Leaf Gardens as my wife and I attended Game 3 as we scalped tickets out on Carlton Street. The Leafs would win that game and the place was absolutely crazy as they staved off elimination. But they would lose in Game 4 at the Gardens.

In the 1985-86 playoffs, the Maple Leafs would take on the high-flying Chicago Black Hawks in the preliminary round. After winning the first two games in Chicago, the Leafs came home for the opportunity to knock off Chicago. My 2 brothers and I made the trip to Toronto and scalped tickets for the game and what a game it was as the Leafs buried the Hawks and eliminated Chicago. It was pandemonium at the Gardens but the best was when we got out onto Carlton Street. The street was wall-to-wall people and a sound truck was blaring out the song, "The Night Chicago Died." It was unreal. St.Louis was Toronto's next opponent and had the opportunity to see another Leaf win at the Gardens. But the series would go seven games with the last game in St.Louis. After regulation the score was tied. The Leafs had a glorious chance to win when Wendel Clark hit both goal posts and the resulting play led to a Blues goal which ended the series. I was enraged and punched a door waking up my two year old which didn't make me too popular with my wife.

The 1992-93 playoffs were for me the most exciting of all Leaf playoff seasons. The Game 7 victory over the Red Wings set off a wild celebration at my house. Next up was the St. Louis Blues and I can remember being all out of sorts when the Leafs played the Blues on a Sunday afternoon. The Leafs would win that series and next was the LA Kings. The Game Six loss was difficult, especially since Kerry Fraser was blind in one eye and couldn't see out of the other. But I still BELEAFED that the Leafs would prevail. My brother and I had the opportunity to go to Game 7 at the Gardens. We got to Toronto early and the city was electric. A bed sheet was hanging out on a balcony on Yonge Street saying: Beleaf In The Dream! Even with the Leafs down and the goalie pulled I thought they would tie it up but it didn't happen. Without a doubt the most devastating loss I have experienced as a Leaf fan. With a tear in my eye we left the Gardens before they gave the Kings the Clarence Campbell Trophy.

The 2000-01 playoffs saw the Leafs sweep the Ottawa Senators and go on to face the New Jersey Devils. I was convinced that the Leafs would advance especially when they were up 3-2. But the Leafs dropped Game Six at home and then were trapped to death in Game Seven to lose the series 4-3.

The following season was a special one as the Leafs were without a few regulars, including Captain Mats Sundin. They would defeat the New York Islanders in a very physical series and then head to Ottawa hurting big time. But they would come from behind several times and defeat the Senators once again to go on to the Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. Once again, I felt that they were the better team and they were getting some of their regulars back, including Sundin. However, they would lose in six games.

The Leafs entered the 2003-04 playoffs after acquiring Brian Leetch and Ron Francis. I was convinced that this would put them over the top to get to the Stanley Cup. They would defeat the Ottawa Senators once again and move on to face the Philadelphia Flyers. After dropping the first two games in Philly, the Leafs came back to the ACC and won the next two games. I had the opportunity to be at Game 4. But the Leafs would lose Game 5 and set up a must win Game 6 at the ACC. After tying the score to send the game to overtime, they would eventually lose which led to quite a terrible scene at my house as my son and I were stunned.

Throughout the years, the thing that is consistent is the fact that everything centered around the Leafs success in the playoffs. A loss usually meant that the next day would be miserable. A win always meant having a little extra spring in my step the next day. There has been rage, tears, elation, screaming (in joy and outrage) and nervousness. There is undoubtedly lucky shirts worn, the same rituals set and the need for no interruption for 60 minutes. You can bet that come next week I will be wearing a Leafs lapel pin to work, maybe even Leaf cuff links. I have a blue sapphire and diamond ring that usually comes out come playoff time when the Leafs are in it. Take it to the bank that it will be on my finger next week.

There is nothing like the playoffs when the Leafs are in it. It will be interesting to see who becomes this year's playoff villain. Over the years there have been: Ken Hodge, Wayne Cashman, Dave Schultz, Don Saleski, Steve Webb, Daniel Alfredsson, Marty McSorley, Dino Ciccareli, Steve Payne and the list goes on. The fact that this year's Leaf team is the youngest in the league really has me excited. There are players that I really like and if they have some success it will be even more gratifying. One thing is for sure, I will be living and dying with them come Game One. Batten down the hatches, the Leafs Are Back In The Playoffs.