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1938/39: Despite a 19-20-9 record the Maple Leafs make the playoffs as the NHL now organizes the teams into one 7-team league. In the quarterfinals the Maple Leafs begin their playoff run by dispatching the New York Americans in 2 straight. Moving onto the semifinals the Maple Leafs won in dramatic fashion taking the decisive 3rd game in overtime by beating the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 in overtime. However, their playoff run would come to screeching halt as they are beaten by the Boston Bruins 4 games to 1 as the finals shifts to a best of 7 format.
1939/40: With a 25-17-6 record the Maple Leafs return to the playoffs as the 3rd seed. Once again the Leafs would turn up a notch beating sweeping the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings in 2 straight best of 3 series to make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the Finals the Leafs would find themselves in a quick hole losing the first 2 games to the Rangers in New York. With the rest of the series at the Maple Leaf Gardens, the Leaf appears to be sitting pretty winning 2 straight to even the series at 2 games apiece. However, the Rangers would take 2 straight games in overtime to stun the Leafs in 6 games.
1940/41: With new coach Hap Day, the Leafs put together another solid season posting a 28-14-6 record to earn a first round playoff bye. In the semifinals the Leafs and Boston Bruins would battle to a 7th game, as the Leafs drop the last 2 games of the series by twin scores of 2-1.
1941/42: The Maple Leafs would earn a bye into the semifinals for the 2nd year in a row by finishing in 2nd place with a solid 27-18-6 record. In the semifinals the Leafs would overcome an early 2 games to 1 deficit by winning 3 straight to dispatch the New York Rangers in 6 games. In the finals the Leafs would immediately find themselves in trouble dropping the first 2 games at home allowing 7 goals in 2 games to the Detroit Red Wings. Things would only get bleaker as they are slaughtered by the Wings 5-2 in Game 3. Down 3-0 the Leafs appeared to be ready for the compost, but the team would not go quietly winning Game 4 in Detroit by a score of 4-3 the Leafs returned to the MLG where they exploded for 9 goals in a 9-3 win. Back in Detroit for Game 6 the Leafs would continue their suddenly rejuvenated play by shutting out the Wings 3-0 to force an improbable 7th game. Back at the Maple Leaf Gardens on April 18th for Game 7 a then record crowd of 16,000 witnessed the Leafs complete the greatest comeback n hockey history by claiming the Stanley Cup with a 3-1. In all 7 game series of all sorts this was the first time a team rallied form a 0-3 deficit, in the 60 years since it has only happened once more.
1942/43: Coming off their improbable Stanley Cup comeback the Maple Leafs finish in 3rd place in the now 6-team NHL with a 22-19-9 record. In the semifinals the Maple Leafs found themselves in a rematch with the Detroit Red Wings but there would be no miracles as they lost in 6 games.
1943/44: With defenseman Babe Pratt winning the Hart Trophy the Maple Leafs make the playoff again finishing 3rd with a 23-23-4 record. However in the semifinals the Leafs are demolished by the Montreal Canadiens in 5 games losing the final 4 games after winning the opener including a humiliating 11-0 loss in Game 5 that ended their season.
1944/45: The Maple Leafs make the playoff again finishing in 3rd place with a 24-22-4 record. With Calder Trophy winning Goalie Frank McCool manning the pipes the Leafs get off to a good start in the semifinals beating the Canadiens in the first 2 games played in Montreal. After a 4-1 loss in Game 3 the Leafs took a 3-1 series lead by winning Game 4 in overtime. The Leafs would go on to win the series in 6 games to earn a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the Finals the Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 series lead over the Detroit Red Wings, as McCool posted shutouts in the first 3 games. However, 3 years after the Leafs overcame a 0-3 deficit against the Wings the Wings looked poised to return the favor taking 3 straight to force a 7th game in Detroit. However, the Leafs would bounce back to win Game 7 by a score of 2-1.
1945/46: The defending Stanley Cup Champion Maple Leafs never get a chance to fight for the cup as their season ends without the playoffs thanks to finishing 5th with a disappointing 19-24-7 record.
1946/47: After missing the playoffs the Maple Leafs bounce back with a solid 2nd place finish with a 31-19-10 record. With a young team led by Calder Trophy winner Howie Meeker the Leafs returned to the Stanley Cup Finals by beating the Detroit Red Wings in 5 games. In the finals the Leafs were matched up against the Montreal Canadiens in the first All-Canadian final in 12 years. After losing Game 1 by a score of 6-0 in Montreal the Leafs rebound to win the next 3 games. After dropping Game 5 in Montreal the Leafs won the Stanley Cup as Teeder Kennedy netted his 3rd goal of the finals to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 win.
1947/48: Learning from their mistake of the past the Maple Leafs finish ten regular season in first place with a terrific 32-15-3 record. In the semifinals the Leafs knock off the Boston Bruins in 5 games, taking the first 3 games by scoring 5 goals in each game. In the finals the Leafs continued to stay red-hot sweeping the Detroit Red Wings in 4 straight to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. In the finals the high flying Leafs it the lamp 18 times in 4 games, including 7 in the series finale.
1948/49: The Maple Leafs cost through the regular season and make the playoffs despite a poor 22-25-13 record. However, once the playoffs began the Leafs returned to Stanley Cup form blasting the Boston Bruins in 5 games for a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the finals the Leafs would dominate the Detroit Red Wings again sweeping them in 4 straight to become the first NHL team to win 3 straight Stanley Cup Championships.
1949/50: The Maple Leafs make the playoffs again finishing in 3rd place with a 31-27-12 record. In the semifinals the Maple Leafs would battle the Detroit Red Wings tooth and nail for 7 games in a series that went back and forth from the start. However, the Leafs 3-year reign as Champions would come to an end with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in overtime of the 7th game at Detroit.
1950/51: The Maple Leafs continue to be one of the NHL's premier teams finishing in 2nd place with a solid 41-16-13 record. In the playoffs the Maple Leafs would earn a trip to their 4th final in 5 years by knocking of the Boston Bruins in 4 games to 1 in a series that featured a tie game thanks to a curfew in Toronto. In the Stanley Cup finals the Maple Leafs would knock off the Montreal Canadiens in 5 games in a series that saw every game go to overtime. In Game 5 the hero was Defenseman Bill Barilko who scored the series-winning goal in overtime. The goal would end up being Barilko's last as he is tragically killed in a plane crash a few months later.
1951/52: The Maple Leafs would overcome the tragic loss of Bill Barilko to make the playoffs again by finishing in 3rd Place with a 29-25-16 record. However, in the playoffs the Leafs are dominated by the Detroit Red Wings being outscored 13-3 in a 4-game sweep.
1952/53: The Maple Leafs would struggle all season as they battled for a playoff berth all season. However, in the end they would come up 2 points short with a 27-30-13 record.
1953/54: After a 1-year break the Maple Leafs would get back to the playoffs by finishing in 3rd Place with a solid 32-24-14 record. However, the Leafs would not last long in the playoffs losing in 5 games to the Detroit Red Wings.
1954/55: The Maple Leafs would make the playoffs again, as Teeder Kennedy collects the Hart Trophy despite a mediocre 24-24-22 record for the Leafs. IN the playoffs the Leafs would be rolled over by the Detroit Wings being swept by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions.
1955/56: Despite a disappointing 24-33-13 record the Maple Leafs make the playoffs by holding off the Boston Bruins by 2 points. In the playoffs the Leafs season would be ended for the 3rd year in a row by the Detroit Red Wings who knock the Leafs off in 5 games.
1956/57: The Maple Leafs struggle all season and miss the playoffs by finishing in 5th place with a terrible 21-34-15 record.
