33 Years Ago in Leafland; April 7, 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 line of Steve Thomas and Rick Vaive centred by Peter Ihnacak was the only one kept intact by Coach John Brophy in their final tune-up for the playoff series against St. Louis. Russ Courtnall was moved back to centre and reunited with Wendel Clark along with Mark Osborne. Osborne who was acquired from the New York Rangers on March 5, 1987 for Jeff Jackson and Toronto's 3rd Round Pick in 1989, has proved to be a valuable addition. Scoring a goal in his first game as a Leaf, he ended up producing 15 points in 16 games to finish the season. 
The Leafs third line will see Dan Daoust at centre with rookie Vincent Damphousse and Mike Allison on the wings. The biggest loser of Brophy's line shuffling is centre Tom Fergus who is temporarily relegated to the 4th line with Brad Smith and Greg Terrion. This, despite the fact that Fergus led the Leafs in points against ST.Louis this season in addition to topping the team in points in last years playoff series against the Blues. Brophy said of his team, "We've got three lines that can score. In fact, we've got four lines that can score." Of the demotion of Tom Fergus he said, "He could be the first-line centre by the second period".
Leaf defenceman Chris Kotsopoulos did not make the trip as he continues to recover from a groin pull and abdominal strain. Also, Miroslav Ihnacak who played 34 games this season did not practice with the big team, instead being relegated to working out with the AHL Newmarket Saints farmhands who will skate as "black aces" for the duration of the playoff. These players include goalies, Jeff Reese and Tim Bernhardt, Daryl Evans, Wes Jarvis, Ken Yaremchuk, Kevin Maguire and defencemen Terry Johnson and recent junior signee, Ken Spangler.

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