33 Years Ago in Leafland; April 23, 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 played probably the best game we have all year. We didn't fall into any traps. We stayed clear of any stupid stuff and played hockey," coach John Brophy said after the Leafs took a 2-0 series lead in Detroit with a 7-2 win over the Wings. Some Leafs were even talking of four game sweep of the Red Wings, Rick Vaive saying, "Certainly the possibility is there. But we're going to have to continue playing the way we have. We have to focus on the first one at home and then think if we win that one we can think of the fourth game." Wendel Clark was a bit more cautious, "No. We have to keep our heads down and continue to work hard. We can't think too far ahead. We stole two from them in their building and there's no reason they can't steal two in our place." As for Vaive, he left the game in the third period after receiving an elbow to the head. He felt dizzy and Brophy was worried he may have a slight concussion. However, Vaive said he felt better by the end of the game and expected to play Game 3.
Jacques Demers admitted, "The Leafs dominated us. Maybe they're a better team than we thought. Maybe we underestimated them." The Leafs jumped on Greg Stefan and the Wings early as Steve Thomas broke his slump with his first playoff goal in the 6th minute of play, he would add another later. Thomas admitted, "I knew it wouldn't be a spectacular goal when I finally got one. I figured it would go in off my shin pads or my body and that's exactly what happened." Leafs scored twice in 26 seconds from Vaive and Daoust midway though the first to take a 3-0 into the break. After Darren Veitch made it 3-1 only 17 seconds into the second period, Wregget made a glove save that was similar to his great one against St. Louis the previous round. He stopped a hard shot from Gilbert Delorme to prevent the Wings from getting within a goal. Russ Courtnall scored soon after, and that 4-1 lead held up through the period. The score got two 7-1 on markers before Brent Ashton potted a power play goal with just over two minutes remaining.
Demers was being second-guessed for sticking with Greg Stefan for Game 2 after pulling him in the first game, "Stefan is our No.1 goalie. We went with the guy we thought would win. Obviously I have to change my mind now. Hanlon will start the third game in Toronto Saturday night. You need good goaltending to win. Ken Wregget is giving it to the Leafs. But Stefan isn't entirely to blame. You win as a team and you lose as a team." As for whether he contemplated yanking Stefan once again after the Leafs went up 3-0 Demers said, "The thought never entered my mind. I decided before the game that I was going to go with Stefan no matter what happened."
True to his word, (thanks to his broken knuckles) Wendel Clark avoided engaging in fisticuffs. His cousin Joey Kocur fought Todd Gill in the second minute of the game and soon after, Bob Probert instigated a fight with Al Iafrate earning an extra minor penalty. This led to the opening goal of the game when Thomas scored on the ensuing power play. Demers, addressing the dumb penalties said, "We simply cannot afford to take purposeless penalties. It's possible to get back to our physical game without giving the Leafs opportunities they haven't earned. This one is too important. The third game is always the big one."

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