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October 14: On this day in 1950, the Maple leafs opened their 1950-51 season with a 2-1 loss at home to the Chicago Black Hawks. The loss was not a precursor of what was to come. The Leafs went on to set a team record for the fewest team losses in one season, (minimum 70 game schedule) of just 16 games. The Leafs completed the regular season at 41-16-13 and went on to capture their 4th Stanley Cup in 5 years.
October 14: On this day in 1978, the Leafs played their home opener against the New York Islanders. Leafs fans were entertained to a 10-7 Leaf victory. It marked the first time since 1917 that Toronto notched a double-digit goal total in a home opener. Darryl Sittler scored three goals and added four assists for a total of seven points on the evening, his 2nd most in one game as a Leaf. Sitller holds the team and NHL record for most points in one game (10)
October 14: On this day in 1979, the Philadelphia Flyers kicked off the longest undefeated streak in NHL history with a 4-3 victory over the Leafs in Philly. Altogether, the Flyers went 35 consecutive games without a loss. During the streak, they played the Leafs twice, beating them once and tying the second game.
October 14: On this day in 1984, the Leafs lost 5-2 to the Jets in Winnipeg and began a stretch that saw them go winless in 14 out of 15 straight games. The Leafs finished the season with just 48 points in 80 games and in last place overall in the 21-team NHL of 1984-85.
October 14: On this day in 2005, the Leafs beat up on the Atlanta Thrashers 9-1 in Atlanta. The Leafs scored 7 powerplay goals in the game, a team record for most powerplay goals in one game. The Thrashers first season in the NHL was 1999-2000 and as of 2007-08, the Leafs all-time regular season record against the Thrashers is W-19, L-7, T-1, OL-3 in 30 games played. The two teams have yet to play each other in the playoffs.
October 14: On this day in 2006, Leaf captain Mats Sundin scored his 500th career goal in most dramatic fashion. It came with the Leafs short-handed in a 5-4 overtime victory against goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and the Calgary Flames and completed a hat-trick for Sundin. The milestone was tallied at :50 of OT in game number 1,162 of his NHL career. As a demonstration of his classiness, Sundin clapped his hands in honor of his Toronto fans. As at the end of the 2006-07 season, Sundin shares the NHL record for most career overtime goals (15) with Jaromir Jagr.
