Maple Leafs 18 Year-Old Scoring 1st Goal in Playoffs

Let's concentrate on the positives of the Maple Leafs Game 3 of the Qualifying Round. Rookie, Nick Robertson scored his first NHL goal, as an 18-year old...in the Playoffs. Amazingly, it was over 76 years ago since a Maple Leaf did that. 

On March 28, 1944 in Game Four of the Semi-Finals at Maple Leaf Gardens, 18-year old future captain, Teeder Kennedy scored his first NHL goal. The goal was assisted by George Boothman and Babe Pratt and proved to be the final Maple Leafs goal scored that season. The 4-1 loss in Game Four was followed by an 11-0 drubbing at the Forum to give Montreal a 4-1 series win. Incidentally, this was also the series in which Maurice Richard scored all five goals in a 5-1 Game Two victory which garnered him all three star selections.

Below is a photo from the following day's Toronto Daily Star of the rookie Kennedy. Unlike young Robertson's first goal, it appears that Kennedy was not a thing of beauty. The Star stated (below) that Canadiens winger Phil Watson actually put the puck in his own net. They all count though. 


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