On This Day April 16th.

Bill Barilko Bill Barilko Program
April 16: On this day in 1949 the Leafs completed the first Stanley Cup three-peat in NHL history. After a rather mediocre regular season with a record of 22-25-13, the Leafs roared in the playoffs, beating the Red Wings in 4 straight games in the Final. It marked the only time during the 25-year "Original Six " era between 1942 and 1967 that a team finishing in 4th place during the regular season went on to win the Cup. The score in the final game was 3-1 and Cal Gardner scored the Cup-winning goal at 19:45 mark of the second period, assisted by Jim Thomson and Bill Ezinicki. Altogether, the Leafs won a total of 5 Cups during the 1940's, all under head coach Hap Day.

April 16: On this day in 1987, with a shutout performance by goaltender Ken Wregget, the Leafs defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-0 and won their first best-of-seven playoff series since 1978 in six games. Scoring the first and game winning goal for the Leafs was Brad "Motor City" Smith. Brad Smith played only about half of his two last NHL seasons as a Leaf and then was forced to retire due to chronic back problems.

April 16: On this day in 2004, Leaf goalie Ed Belfour tied an NHL record by recording his third shutout in one playoff series as the Leafs blanked the Ottawa Senators 2-0. It has occurred 12 times in NHL history that a goalie has registered 3 shutouts in one playoff series. Out of the 12, four of them were Leafs, more than any other team.


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