March 2: On this day in 1946, the Leafs hammered the Chicago Black Hawks 9-4. Seven of the Leafs goals came from two players. Captain Syl Apps netted four and Sweeney Schriner bagged a hat trick. As of 2005-06, it was the last time in team history that just two Leafs have each scored a hat trick and accounted for as many as 7 Leaf goals in one game.
March 2: On this day in 1966, the Leafs and Habs hooked up for the 10th time of the regular season at Maple Leaf Gardens and the brawl filled game between the two storied rivalries ended in a 3-3 tie. During a second period donnybrook, Habs' defenseman Terry Harper took on one of the NHL's best fighters, Orland Kurtenbach. It proved to be a mistake. Harper was blackened and bloodied for a total of 16 stitches over both eyes. In 1965-66, the Leafs won their regular season series with the Canadiens 7-5-2, but the Habs swept the Leafs in four straight games in the playoffs.
March 2: On this day in 2012, The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Ron Wilson and will replaced him with former Anaheim Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle.
Wilson, who led Team USA to Olympic silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games, was hired by the Leafs in June 2008, but the team has not made playoffs in the three-plus years he's been behind the bench.
"This was not an easy decision for me to make," said Leafs GM Brian Burke in a statement. "I want to thank Ron for all of his hard work and dedication to our organization over the past four seasons." Wilson compiled a 130-135-45 record with the Leafs.
The Leafs were sitting in a playoff spot for most of this season before a brutal stretch over the past three weeks saw the team drop in the standings, losing 10 of 11 games (1-9-1) to sit 11th in the Eastern Conference before Friday night's games -- five points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The move comes after Wilson was given a one-year contract extension in late December.
Carlyle guided the Ducks to the Stanley Cup championship in 2006-07 season. He was fired by the team earlier this season despite having two more seasons left on his contract.
Wilson, who led Team USA to Olympic silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games, was hired by the Leafs in June 2008, but the team has not made playoffs in the three-plus years he's been behind the bench.
"This was not an easy decision for me to make," said Leafs GM Brian Burke in a statement. "I want to thank Ron for all of his hard work and dedication to our organization over the past four seasons." Wilson compiled a 130-135-45 record with the Leafs.
The Leafs were sitting in a playoff spot for most of this season before a brutal stretch over the past three weeks saw the team drop in the standings, losing 10 of 11 games (1-9-1) to sit 11th in the Eastern Conference before Friday night's games -- five points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The move comes after Wilson was given a one-year contract extension in late December.
Carlyle guided the Ducks to the Stanley Cup championship in 2006-07 season. He was fired by the team earlier this season despite having two more seasons left on his contract.