Maple Leafs 5-0 Comeback; A Rare Feat

 

"It was a very unique game, that's for sure"

The words of Calgary Flames coach, Bob Johnson after his team beat the Maple Leafs 6-5 in overtime on January 26, 1987. This was the last time any NHL team came back to tie a 5-0 deficit in the 3rd period before Toronto did it themselves on December 14, 2023. 

The present day Buds erased a 5-0 deficit in the 3rd period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, only to lose in overtime. The last time a team came back from a 5-0 hole in the final period was almost 37 years ago, also in Toronto. The Calgary Flames went down 5-0 at Maple Leaf Gardens entering the third, only to rally for five goals and win in overtime.

On that Monday night in early 1987, Toronto erupted for a five-goal 1st period, chasing starting goaltender Mike Vernon after the fourth. Miroslav Ihnacak, rookie Vinny Damphousse, Al Iafrate, and two goals from Wendel Clark staked the Leafs to a 5-0 lead after one period of play, outshooting the Flames 16 to 7. The score stayed the same after the second period after Rejean Lemelin shut the door replacing Vernon. The third period was a bit more eventful than the second.

"I'd like to say we planned it that way but we didn't exactly have that in mind," commented Lanny McDonald after his Flames scored five goals in the third period.

Calgary waited until six minutes into the final frame to begin their comeback when Steve Bozek scored. Joe Mullen made it 5-2 halfway through the period when he beat Allan Bester who had turned aside all 21 shots he faced in the first two periods. Jim Peplinski brought the Flames within two goals just over three minutes later. Joel Otto made it 5-4 with 3:59 remaining and Joe Mullen potted his second goal with 49 seconds remaining to tie the game. Colin Patterson scored 90 seconds into overtime on the only shot both teams had in the extra frame to cap the improbable comeback for Calgary.

"We got running around and obviously panicked, " said Leafs coach John Brophy. "We were outhustled, outmuscled all over the ice." Brophy added, "No, I didn't give them hell," he said. "What do you say to them? It was a heart-breaking loss."

Leafs sniper, Rick Vaive commented the next day, "You'd expect him to go nuts after something like, but I guess after he rationalized, he figured there was nothing more to say. But I must admit I was rather surprised with the restraint he showed."

Maple Leafs owner, 83 year old, Harold Ballard said the next day about the game, "I'd have to get Webster's Dictionary to find the words to describe it."

Maple Leafs veteran, Greg Terrion said after the collapse; "We've got to stick together. On a young team there's often a tendency for individuals to look away. But each guy has to look in the mirror and question himself about what he did in the third period. We've got to learn from it and believe in ourselves."

Apparently the Maple Leafs are still learning, almost four decades later.

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