March 31: On this day in 1985…
On this day in 1985, the Leafs lost to the New York Rangers 7-5 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Leafs were in the midst of a five-game losing streak to end yet another disastrous season. In those last five games of the 1984-85 schedule, the Laffs gave up 35 goals, an average of seven goals per game. What a way to go! By early April, the Laffs were golfing again.
March 30: On this day in 1944…
On this day in 1944, the Montreal Canadiens bombarded the hapless Leafs 11-0. It was the worst beating the Laffs have ever endured in the playoffs. The Canadiens set a record that has never been equaled of 7 goals in one period. The also took the pleasure of knocking the Laffs out of the playoffs on that night. What a way to go. Those Leafs – no pride whatsoever. In nets for the Leafs was Paul Bibeault who actually belonged to the Canadiens but was on loan to Toronto because the Laffs couldn’t find their own goalie. “Here, take Bibeault,” offered the Habs. Then the massacre proceeded.
March 29: On this day in 1992…
On this day in 1992, the Leafs were thumped again by the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1. The Leafs lost often to Chicago and many other teams in 1991-92. With a dismal losing record of 30-43-7, the Laffs finished last in their Division and did not qualify for the playoffs again in 1992. Meanwhile, in front of the brilliant goaltending of Ed Belfour, the Hawks went all the way to the Stanley Cup final. The Laffs have not been to a Final since the days of the “Original Six”. Ed Belfour won all kinds of awards with Chicago, including the Calder and a couple of Vezinas. He won a Stanley Cup with Dallas. He also played for the Laffs later in his career and won nothing.
March 28: On this day in 2009…
On this day in 2009, the Leafs lost to the Boston Bruins again, 7-5. Leaf “goaltender of the future” Justin Pogge took the loss. The Leafs played six games against the Bruins in 2008-09 and lost five of them. The Bruins finished first in their Division. The Laffs finished last and out of the playoffs again. And now, Justin Pogge is gone. Things just didn’t work out for Justin in Laffland. Oh well. Leaf fans have nothing to worry about, though. The Leafs are REBUILDING. Yeah, that’s it. Idiots.
March 27: On this day in 1945…
On this day in 1945, Brit Selby was born in Kingston, Ontario. There are lots of Leaf fans in Kingston, mostly in the penitentiaries. Brit was the last Leaf to win the Calder trophy as rookie-of-the-year. It was in the old six-team NHL in 1966. It must have been a relatively light year for rookies. Selby never really blossomed into anything that substantiated his Calder trophy winning honor. On left wing as a Leaf, Selby recorded just 29 Leaf goals over a few very trying seasons. The Leafs don’t have time anymore to draft, nurture and develop young promising talent. The best rookies are always somewhere else.
March 26: On this day in 1929…
On this day in 1929, the New York Rangers began what has become one of the most joyful and fullfilling traditions known to mankind. They knocked the hated Leafs out of the playoffs. The score was 2-1 and the Rangers swept their best-of-three series with the Laffs two games to none. The Toronto franchise became the Maple Leafs in 1927 but didn’t make the playoffs until 1929. Since then, many teams have experienced the europhia of sending the Laffs golfing. The Rangers were first. Now, if only the stupid Loafs could make the playoffs sometimes, the tradition could continue.
March 25: On this day in 1964…
On this day in 1964, former Leaf draft choice and outstanding goalie Ken Wregget was born. Poor Ken. He played six seasons for the Laffs and never had a winning record. Ken became yet another Leaf goalie with a dismal all-time losing Leaf record. Only, Ken’s was really bad. He played in 200 games as a Leaf and went 55-112-17. YIKES! Fortuately, the hockey Gods smiled upon Ken and he ended up winning a Stanley Cup ring with the Penguins in 1992. Like so many others, if Ken Wregget had not started his NHL career in Laffland, he would have been ok.
