33 Years Ago in Leafland; April 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.
Leafs faithful began lining up outside Maple Leaf Gardens at 7:00 Monday night, even before the game began in which the Leafs defeated Detroit in overtime to take a 3-1 lead in the Norris Final. By today, there were thousands of fans willing to pay from  $11 for a Grey seat to $35 for a Gold for the next four home games. Four weeks ago, when Toronto was five points out of the playoffs with five games remaining, only two people bothered to pick up playoff tickets.
"They're going to dig in like those guys at the Alamo," coach John Brophy said describing the Red Wings being down 3 games to 1, he added, "They had some all-stars on that team, didn't they? We've got to put the lid on the coffin. But it'll be tougher than you think. The first goal will be a big one." Detroit coach Jacques Demers stated, "Maybe it would be easy for us to say that it's been a good season for us; that we did more than anyone expected. But I can't accept that. If we win the next game it's 3-2 and then anything can happen."
The Leafs will be without defenceman Chris Kotsopoulos who re-aggravated a groin injury while blocking a shot in Game 4. He will be replaced in the lineup by either Ken Yaremchuk or Brad Smith. Steve Tomas and Borje Salming were given the day off to nurse injuries, not Wendel Clark though. Clark is playing with bad shoulder and broken bones in his right hand and apparently played 33 minutes of the 70 total in Game 4. Brophy stayed with three lines for the majority of Game 4, often cutting back to two lines. Russ Courtnall played only a few shifts. Brophy said, "That wasn't disciplinary, I just wanted certain of our people out against their's. In the playoffs, you have to pay a bigger price than during the year, and most of our players play that way. For those who don't... I can't deny Daoust and Allison. They're playing well." Brophy has been impressed with his young defence, "Todd Gill is great. He's been playing with confidence, hitting guys, shooting the puck and fighting if he has to. He's done everything for us as a 21-year old. Al Iafrate (also 21), has also come about 100 miles in the past month."
Game 5 goes back at Joe Louis Arena, with Toronto having a chance to advance to the Conference Final to play Edmonton, who swept Winnipeg in their series.

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