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April 22: On this day in 1945, the Leafs defeated the Red Wings 2-1 to capture their second Stanley Cup in 3 years, 5th overall. The series was almost the reverse of the 1942 Finals when the Leafs overcame a 3 games to none deficit. This time it was the Red Wings who came back from being down 3-0 to tie the series 3-3. In the 7th and deciding game, Toronto's Walter "Babe" Pratt scored the Cup-winning goal in the 3rd period. Five of the seven games in the series ended in a shutout including 3 for Leaf goalie Frank "Ulcers" McCool and to this day the Leafs and the Red Wings of 1945 share the NHL record for the fewest goals scored in any 7-game playoff series ever. The two teams combined for just 18 goals, 9 goals apiece.
April 22: On this day in 1962, the Leafs brought the Stanley Cup back home after an 11 year sojourn away from Toronto. They defeated the reigning Cup champion Chicago Black Hawks in 6 games. In the final game, Bobby Hull scored the first goal of the contest in the third period to make it 1-0 for Chicago but the Leafs responded with two goals in the final 10 minutes of the game. Bob Nevin tied the game for the Leafs and then Dick Duff scored the Cup-winning goal assisted by Tim Horton and George Armstrong. The win propelled the Maple Leafs to their first of three straight Stanley Cup championships.
April 22: On this day in 1976, Darryl Sittler became the only Leaf in team history to score five goals in one playoff game. It remains an NHL playoffs record that Sittler shares with 4 others. His five goals came in an 8-5 bruising of the Philadelphia Flyers. He also added 1 assist to set another Leafs team record of 6 points in one playoff game. His victim was former teammate, goalie Bernie Parent. Sittler equalled Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s 32-year-old record for most goals in one playoff game. Philadelphia’s Reggie Leach joined Richard and Sittler just days later, as Leach scored five of his playoff-record 19 goals on May 6, 1976, in a 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins.
