Posts
April 21: On this day in 1951, Leaf defenseman Bill Barilko scored one of the biggest goals in Toronto Maple Leaf history at 2:53 of the first overtime period to win the Cup for the Leafs over the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs won the best-of-seven series 4 games to 1 with all five games going into overtime. It was the Toronto franchise's 9th Cup victory in the NHL, more than any other team at the time. The 1951 Finals are the only NHL playoff series in history in which every game was settled in overtime. Sadly, it was Leaf hero Bill Barilko's last game as he died in a small plane crash the next summer.
Barilko scored the overtime goal at the 2:53 mark against the Montreal Canadiens' Gerry McNeil in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final on April 21, 1951, to clinch the Cup for the Maple Leafs.
April 21: On this day in 1978, Leaf goalie Mike Palmateer shutout the New York Islanders 2-0 in Game 3 of their Quarter-Final series. Palmateer would finish his 1978 playoff run with 2 shutouts, tied with Ken Dryden of Montreal, the eventual Cup winners.
