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April 18: On this day in 1942, the Leafs completed the biggest comeback in the Finals of NHL history to win their 4th Stanley Cup in the hardest possible way. As of 2008, they still remain the only team to come back from a 3-0 games deficit in the Finals to win the Cup. In Game 4 of the series against the Red Wings, Detroit took a 2-0 lead past the midway point of the 2nd period and seemed to be cruising to a 4 game sweep for the Cup. The Leafs came back to win 4-3. Toronto dominated Game 5, winning 9-3. In Game 6, legendary goalie Turk Broda shutout the Wings 3-0 and the series returned to Maple Leaf Gardens tied at 3 games apiece. In Game 7, in front of a record crowd of 16,218, the Wings scored first but Dave "Sweeney" Schriner knotted the score at 1-1. Pete Langelle scored the Cup winner and Schriner scored again to seal a 3-1 victory and the greatest comeback in NHL history. Hero, Pete Langelle never played another game in the NHL.
April 18: On this day in 1963, the Leafs won their second consecutive Stanley Cup of the 1960's, defeating the Red Wings 4 games to 1. It was their first Cup victory on home ice since 1951. The score in the final game was 3-1. Eddie Shack scored the Cup-winning goal for the Leafs, and Dave Keon became the first player in NHL history to score 2 shorthanded goals in one playoff game. Keon’s heroics led Toronto to a Cup-winning triumph over Detroit. It marked the second of three straight Stanley Cups for the Leafs.
April 18: On this day in 2001, the Leafs eliminated the Ottawa Senators for the second consecutive year in the opening round of the playoffs. The Leafs swept the Sens in 4 straight games and scored only 10 goals the entire series. More importantly, Toronto allowed only 3 Ottawa goals in 4 games. Curtis Joseph recorded 2 shutouts in the series.
