33 Years Ago in Leafland; March 25, 1987

Spring of 1987. The Maple Leafs went on an improbable playoff run. They got to within a game of meeting the mighty Edmonton Oilers in the Campbell Conference Finals. I was a 15 year-old hockey mad kid enjoying the fortunes of my favourite team. What better time than now to look back at this memorable time of my youth and Leafs history.
"Its a disgrace the way we played tonight. The effort we gave was a disgrace and it was a disgrace for 15,000 fans to have to watch it," exclaimed Leaf coach John Brophy after an embarrassing 6-2 home-ice loss to the Minnesota North Stars. The loss dropped Toronto again to five points in arrears of the North Stars with five games remaining. Star reporter Rick Matsumoto wrote bluntly, "Next year arrived last night for the Toronto Maple Leafs...they will need nothing short of a miracle to prolong their season beyond a week from Sunday."
Mark Pavelich opened the scoring for Minnesota with just over a minute left in the first period and then scored again a minute into the second. The North Stars added two more goals before the game was half over to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Ken Wregget was replaced in the Leaf net by Allan Bester after two weak goals went in off his goal stick. Bester stopped 18 of 20 shots in his half of the match, but the damage was done.
This debacle was a team effort though. Toronto Star's Jim Proudfoot gave Rick Vaive a bit of a pass seeing as his tongue was still swollen badly from his collision with Phil Housley the day previous. According to Proudfoot, "He was noticeably short of stamina and appeared infrequently after crashing into linemate Steve Thomas in the second period,"he continued, "Nobody else showed the slightest inclination to assume the leadership role Vaive was unable to handle - not Wendel Clark, not Borje Salming, not Tom Fergus, not one of those you might have looked to. Only Brad Smith cavorted energetically."
The Leafs were now five points behind not just Minnesota but also Chicago. The North Stars had four of their last five remming games on the road and Chicago had two games left with Toronto. The problem for the Leafs however was the fact their next game would be hosting the mighty Edmonton Oilers, then three of their last four games were on the road. All the good will and hope gained in Buffalo had gone. Despair in Leafland had returned.

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