33 Years Ago in Leafland; April 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.
"We didn't skate as well tonight, no doubt about it," said John Brophy, "But give Detroit credit. They shut us right down. We certainly wanted to skate, but they wouldn't let us."Detroit won 4-2 at Maple Leaf Gardens to jump back into the Norris Division Final. Mike Allison agreed that the Leafs got away from their game plan of tossing the puck out of the zone and chasing it down, "After two big games in Detroit I think we wanted to put a show on for our fans. You come in here and hear the fans screaming for you and you get carried away and want to do too much. John is not going to let it go any further next game."
Ken Wregget was pulled for the first time in the playoffs after allowing Detroit's third goal, 49 seconds into the second period. The goal by Shawn Burr, his second of the night, gave the Wings a 3-2 lead and proved to be the game-winner. Wregget faulted himself on all three goals, "On the first one, the shot hit me and dropped down and he (Gallant) just had to tap it in. On the second one, I saw the shot all the way, but it went under my glove. On the third one, I squeezed my glove too soon. The puck hit it and bounced in front. Their guy (Burr) chipped it in. It was their lucky goal, but that's the way it goes sometimes when things are going bad."
Wings coach Demers summed it up, "Last night, the Leafs stepped on the ice to a heck of an ovation. We had the same thing in Detroit. So we wanted to get fancy, win the game and give the fans a good show. It's not only us. I think it happened to the Leafs too." Demers may be onto something about home teams trying to do much, in this year's playoffs the home team has a 24-31 record. Demers also stated that  Glen Hanlon will be the starter for the rest of the series.

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