33 Years Ago in Leafland; April 5, 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.

The Blackhawks turned the tables on the Maple Leafs a day after Toronto had clinched a playoff spot. Chicago dominated the Leafs Sunday night by a score of 5-2 at Chicago Stadium to snag third place in the Norris Division from the Leafs. Toronto will face the St.Louis Blues in the opening round. Coach Brophy stated, "We didn't have as much jump as we did Saturday, obviously. We've been on an  emotional high. It's been tough going for the last five games, no doubt about it. There was lots at stake, third place, but it wasn't there tonight." Chicago jumped out to a 4-0 lead halfway through the match, before Toronto rallied slightly in the third. Goals by Gary Leeman and Vincent Damphousse cut the deficit to two goals with eleven minutes to play before Denis Savard completed his hat-trick to make the final 5-2.

Vaive in street clothes for Gm 7 the previous year.
With the Blues set as Toronto's playoff opponent, Rick Vaive assessed their chances,"I feel confident, I really do. Maybe all indications point to them being the favourite, but I feel good. Indeed, St.Louis went 5-2-1 against Toronto this year, but Vaive continued,"First, I think we're due to beat them and second, we've got a lot of character here. If we play the way we're capable of, I don't think they can keep up with us. Coach Brophy obviously agreed with Vaive, "I feel great about playing them. It doesn't matter where you finish. Anybody can win the division as long as you get in the playoffs. You can throw them in a hat."
Gary Leeman suggested the Blues to watch would be Doug Gilmour and Greg Paslawski, "They're basically the guys we've got to shut down. I don't think any of their games are high scoring. They just consistently check all of the time." Leeman concluded, "We remember that they knocked us out in seven games last year.
Rick Vaive in particular was excited to draw the Blues, as he missed the seventh game of the Norris Division Final in St. Louis the previous season due to a shoulder injury. "It was a very long night for me, standing behind the bench and not being able to do anything about what was happening on the ice, especially when the guys came so close to beating them," Vaive recounted.



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