33 Years Ago in Leafland; March 28, 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.

"If we keep  playing like we did tonight, I can't see any team beating us." That was Leafs owner Harold Ballard excitedly saying after the Leafs surprising 4-2 home win over the Edmonton Oilers. 
Th win left the Leafs three points behind both Minnesota and Chicago with four games remaining. Gretzky said after,"We made mistakes that cost us the game. Leafs didn't make any." The Great One was held without a point at Maple Leaf Gardens for the first time in his career. He was even on for two Leaf goals. It was his second straight game without a point and even his coach Glen Sather was worrying," He was totally non-existent tonight and I don't know what's wrong. I've never seen him like this. It's probably the first time in Wayne's career that he's struggled like this. Gretzky confirmed that he had a tough time, "There was a lot of clutching and grabbing, but you have to expect that this time of year. The Great One would go on to post only two points in his remaining three games to limp to the season's end with two points in five games. He of course woke up come playoff time, topping the tournament with 34 points helping lead the Oilers to another Cup.

Andy Moog started in net for the Oilers but Sather replaced him with Grant Fuhr for the second period after what he called two "brutal" goals given up to Peter Ihnacak and Tom Fergus. Brophy singled out two of his players saying of Tom Fergus," That's the best game Fergus has played in a long while," and added "I give Courtnall marks for a great hob on right wing, especially after playing centre for most of his career."In conclusion he stated,"We tried to make sure one guy was back at all times and that nobody, like Gretzky or Kurri, got back of our net. I guess it worked. We shut down Gretzky pretty well."




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