33 Years Ago in Leafland; April 19, 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.
"I watched the Leafs in their final two games against St. Louis and I can honestly say that they looked better than they have all season." assessed Red Wings centre Steve Yzerman. He continued, "They were very sound defensively and they showed a lot of discipline. They seemed to be concentrating on their defence and then there was Ken Wregget who made so many big saves. We want to get playing again. I expect it will be a very exciting series. I don't see it as a series full of fights but, rather good, solid hockey. The suspense is building and building."
Red Wings coach Jacques Demers said, "We have a dream. We have a dream of winning the Stanley Cup. We gotta win 12 games. Why not dream? Who thought the Montreal Canadiens would win the Cup last year? Everybody always picks Edmonton or Philadelphia. But the playoffs started with 16 teams; we're down to eight. It's a lotto now and we're very much part of that lotto."
Al Strachan of The Globe and Mail made his predictions for the second round after going 6 for 8 in the first. He says, "If the Leafs are to win, they'll have to continue to get the kind of outstanding goaltending that Ken Wregget produced in the divisional semifinals. They'll also need the kind of determination that suddenly appeared in the playoffs after being absent since October. From the Detroit point of view, the long layoff may cause them to start slowly, but in the long run, a brief vacation at this time of year is usually more beneficial than taking part in a grinding series. Detroit in six."
In Austria, Team Canada recorded a surprise 1-1 tie against the tournament co-favourites, Czechoslovakia. Tony Tanti flipped a puck in from the blue line that somehow bounced and eluded Czech goalie Dominik Hasek with only 15 seconds remaining. The teams were scoreless through two periods until Dusan Pasek scored early in the third. Canada outshot the Czechs 53 to 40 in a true goaltenders duel. They now have an off day before facing Switzerland and Germany.
Red Wings coach Jacques Demers said, "We have a dream. We have a dream of winning the Stanley Cup. We gotta win 12 games. Why not dream? Who thought the Montreal Canadiens would win the Cup last year? Everybody always picks Edmonton or Philadelphia. But the playoffs started with 16 teams; we're down to eight. It's a lotto now and we're very much part of that lotto."
Al Strachan of The Globe and Mail made his predictions for the second round after going 6 for 8 in the first. He says, "If the Leafs are to win, they'll have to continue to get the kind of outstanding goaltending that Ken Wregget produced in the divisional semifinals. They'll also need the kind of determination that suddenly appeared in the playoffs after being absent since October. From the Detroit point of view, the long layoff may cause them to start slowly, but in the long run, a brief vacation at this time of year is usually more beneficial than taking part in a grinding series. Detroit in six."
In Austria, Team Canada recorded a surprise 1-1 tie against the tournament co-favourites, Czechoslovakia. Tony Tanti flipped a puck in from the blue line that somehow bounced and eluded Czech goalie Dominik Hasek with only 15 seconds remaining. The teams were scoreless through two periods until Dusan Pasek scored early in the third. Canada outshot the Czechs 53 to 40 in a true goaltenders duel. They now have an off day before facing Switzerland and Germany.
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