On This Day October 14th.

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.

On This Day February 7th.

Bob Pulford

February 7: On this day in 1959, Hall-of-Famer Bob Pulford tied a Leaf team record with two short-handed goals in the same game as the Leafs downed the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. He liked to say, "My story is this," Pulford summarizes. "A Canadian kid who can play the game well is the luckiest kid in the world. There is no limit." In 1991, Bob Pulford was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Les Kozak

February 7: On this day in 1962, Leafs forward Les Kozak played his final game in the NHL, a 2-2 tie against the Boston Bruins. In his 12 game trial with a fairly strong Leafs team, Kozak had one point, a goal. He was returned to the minors where he suffered a fractured skull injury just two weeks later. At 21 years old, Les Kozak was forced to end his professional hockey career.

Darryl Sittler

February 7: On this day in 1976, Leaf captain Darryl Sittler enjoyed the finest game of his NHL career. Sittler set an NHL record of 10 points in a single game scoring 6 goals and added 4 assists as the Leafs blasted goalie Dave Reece and the Boston Bruins 11-4. He became the first NHL'er to score hat tricks in 2 consecutive periods. Sittler also set a Leaf team record that evening of 5 points in a single period (2nd). As of 2008, no other individual has even registered as many as nine points in a single game.

February 7: On this day in 2012, Phil Kessel scored a goal at the 8:54 mark of the first period against the newly formed Winnipeg Jets in a 2 - 1 loss. This marked the third consecutive year that he scored at least 30 goals in a season.

On This Day January 26th.

Alf "Dutch" Skinner

January 26:  On this day in 1896, Alf Skinner was born in Toronto, Ontario. Skinner was an original member of the Toronto Arenas when Toronto was granted an NHL franchise in 1917. During the new league's first playoff season, Skinner became the first player in NHL history to record a hat trick in the Stanley Cup Finals. Skinner was a natural choice for his hometown team, Skinner had a good year, scoring 13 goals, but he was overshadowed on the championship team by such standouts as Reg Noble and Corb Denneny.

Vic Lynn

January 26:  On this day in 1925, Vic Lynn was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Lynn has the distinction of being the only player to suit up for at least one game with each of the Original Six teams. Most of his 327 total career games were with the Leafs between 1946 and 1950 where he got his name carved into Lord Stanley's Mug three years in a row. During his years as a Leaf, Vic Lynn played on a line known as the "K-L-M line" along with Ted Kennedy and Howie Meeker. In 1950, Lynn was traded to the Boston Bruins where he played for a short time before heading to the minors with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL. Then, in 1953, he got one more kick at the top with the Chicago Blackhawks where he played his final NHL games near the end of the year. From then on, Lynn embarked on a lengthy career as a minor-league and amateur player/coach with such clubs as the Saskatoon Quakers, Brandon Regals, and Prince Albert Mintos.

Darryl Sittler

January 26:  On this day in 1978, Leaf captain Darryl Sittler began an 18 consecutive point-scoring streak that remains tied as the longest in Maple Leaf team history. The Leaf streak of 18 games in a row with at least one point was duplicated by Ed Olczyk in 1989. As at the end of the 2005-06 season, the NHL record for the longest consecutive point-scoring streak is 51 games set by Wayne Gretzky in 1983-84. Mats Sundin had a 30 game point-scoring streak with the Quebec Nordiques in 1992-93.

January 26:  On this day in 1987, the Calgary Flames rallied from a 5-0 deficit at 6:02 of the third period to beat the Leafs 6-5 in overtime. The game tied an NHL record for the biggest comeback in NHL history.

Allan Bester

Calgary defenseman Al MacInnis recorded a hat trick for the Flames. The game winning goal at 1:30 of overtime was scored by Colin Patterson. In the end, the Flames had scored six goals in just 15 minutes and 28 seconds, all on Toronto goalie Alan Bester. As at the end of the 2007-08 season the Leafs have an all-time winning record against the Atlanta/Calgary Flames of W-51, L-50, T-12, O/L-3 in 116 games played. In the only ever playoff encounter between the two franchises in 1979, the Leafs defeated the Atlanta Flames 2 games to nil in a best-of-three preliminary round.

On This Day January 20th.

Darryl Sittler

January 20:  On this day in 1982, the Leafs traded away their captain and future Hall-of-Famer, Darryl Sittler in exchange for Rich Costello, a draft choice and future considerations. Costello played 12 games as a Leaf and recorded 4 points. In 1985-86 Costello played better hockey in the American Hockey League and earned another call-up from the Leafs, this time playing in 2 games and registering one

Rich Costello

assist. It would be his last time in the NHL.Costello spent the next two seasons in the AHL before continuing his career in Germany. He returned to North America for his final season of professional hockey, playing in just nine games with the International Hockey League's Albany Choppers. Exactly one year later, on January 20, 1983, Sittler became the 17th player in NHL history to record 1,000 points. Sittler finished his NHL career with 1,121 points, 916 of which were with the Leafs.

January 20:  On this day in 1983 Darryl Sittler (see picture above)became the 17th player in NHL history to record 1,000 points. Sittler finished his NHL career with 1,121 points, 916 of which were with the Leafs.

1988/89 - 1997/98 Los Angeles Kings Logos

January 20:  On this day in 1995, the Leafs opened their regular season in January for the first time. Mats Sundin played his first game as a Maple Leaf in the shortened season, and got an assist. They tied the L.A. Kings 3-3 in Los Angeles.  Due to a labor dispute between team owners and the players association, the schedule was reduced to 48 games. The Leafs played their last regular season game on May 3, one calendar day later than the last time they won the Cup in 1967 on May 2.

On This Day January 2nd.

Jim Harrison 4 assists in a 13-0 romp over Detroit. Photo by Mike Moore private collection.

January 2: On this day in 1971, the Leafs inflicted the worst defeat that the Detroit Red Wings ever suffered in their history. The Leafs scored 13 unanswered goals and came within one of tying a team record for the most goals in one game (14) set in 1957. They did set a team record with 7 goals in the third period. most assists (11) in one period. most points (18). Final score - Leafs 13, Wings 0. Jacques Plante and Bruce Gamble shared the shutout in nets. Former Wings, Norm Ullman and Paul Henderson each had two goals and two assists. Jim Harrison had four assists, two of them on goals scored by a rookie named Darryl Sittler.

January 2: On this day in 1980, the Leafs began a new decade with a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders. The 1979-80 season was the first of ten consecutive seasons that the Leafs would finish with a losing record in the 21-team NHL. In the calendar 10 year period between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989, the Leafs compiled a dismal regular season record of W-228, L-410, T-87 for a winning percentage of just .374 and better than only the Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils. In the 1980's, the Leafs allowed 593 more goals than they scored.

Doug Gilmour (aka) "Killer"

January 2: On this day in 1992, the Leafs and the Calgary Flames conducted the largest regular season trade in NHL history. The Leafs sent Gary Leeman, Michel Petit, Jeff Reese, Craig Berube and Alexander Godynyuk to Calgary in exchange for Doug Gilmour, Jamie Macoun and Rick Wamsley. The key prize in the deal turned out to be Doug Gilmour who led the Leafs in scoring for the next three straight seasons including an all-time Leaf record high of 127 points in 1992-93. Gilmour also had an all-time high of 77 career playoff points as a Leaf.

Jeff Brown

January 2: On this day in 1998, the Leafs acquired defenseman Jeff Brown from Carolina for a 4th round draft choice. Brown played in just 19 games as a Leaf before being traded a couple of months later to Washington where he ended his NHL career of 747 regular season games and a very respectable total of 584 points, 9 of which were with the Leafs.

Brian McCabe

January 2: On this day in 2006, Chad Kilger scored the first two Leaf goals of the new calendar year and Bryan McCabe scored the overtime winner as the Leafs defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. As at the end of the 2006-07 season, the Leafs have an all-time winning record against the Penguins of W-64, L-62, T-17, O/L-0. The Leafs have a perfect series record of 3-0 in the three times the two teams have met in the playoffs.

On This Day January 4th.

In March 1957, Smythe became chairman of a seven-person committee known as the "Silver Seven" appointed by his father to run hockey operations for the Leafs.

January 4:  On this day in 1971, a single signature changed the course of Leaf history. The son of Maple Leafs founder Conn Smythe, Stafford, and pal Harold Ballard had gained complete control of Maple Leaf Gardens and the team. Ballard had drawn up a will for Stafford to sign including a clause that allowed Ballard the option to buy all of Stafford's shares upon his death. After once again having consumed way too much to drink, Stafford signed the document. A few months later, Stafford died and Ballard exercised his option. Harold Ballard successfully wrested control of the Leafs and MLG from the Smythe family. 

First Swede to make a name for himself in the NHL

January 4:  On this day in 1988, Leaf defenseman Borje Salming played his 1000th NHL regular season game, all with the Leafs. He had one assist in the game. Salming is one of only five players who have played 1000 games in a Leaf uniform. Salming was the first European-trained player to play 1000 games in the NHL. He holds the Maple Leaf team record for most career assists with 620. On the night of February 7th, 1976 when teammate Darryl Sittler recorded 10 points in one game, Salming had two goals and two assists (seen below). He was a 2nd team All-Star 5 times and a first team All-Star in 1977. His jersey number 21 is a Leaf honored number. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996. 

Chris Creamer's
Sports Logos
"1980/81 - 1996/97"

January 4:  On this day in 1988, the Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks engaged in a regulation time shootout. The 7-7 final score equaled a Leaf team record for the highest number of goals in a tie score game. As at the end of the 2007-08 season, the Leafs have an all-time even record against the Canucks of W-52, L-52, T-22, OL-0 in the 126 times the two teams have met since the Canucks entered the NHL in 1970. The clubs have only met once in the playoffs, the 1994 Conference Finals which the Canucks won in 5 games.