TORONTO (May 16) — Only once in my years around the Maple Leafs do I recall the club being so universally written off toward the end of a playoff series — prior to Game 7 of the 1993 opening–round clash with Detroit.

Though the Leafs had clawed back from a pair of stunningly dismal performances to begin the series (6–3 and 6–2 losses at old Joe Louis Arena), they were destroyed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Game 6, as the Red Wings romped, 7–3, to avoid elimination. Practically everyone felt the underdogs should stay home and forfeit the decisive match; inescapable conclusion that it was. Well, surprise, surprise. Tireless Doug Gilmour, playing the hockey of his life, knotted the unforgettable match at 17:17 of the third period and Nikolai Borschevsky won it (and the series) at 2:35 of overtime, redirecting a point–shot by defenseman Bob Rouse past goalie Tim Cheveldae. It was the most–exhilarating Toronto playoff triumph since Lanny McDonald had similarly bounced the New York Islanders from the 1978 Stanley Cup quarterfinals, scoring early in extra time of Game 7 at the Nassau Coliseum.

With a slight nod to recency bias, I can say that neither conquest would measure up to the Leafs somehow recovering against Florida in the current playoff fracas. The ’93 club was the polar–opposite: rising unexpectedly in the latter two months of the schedule (18–3–3 run from Feb. 11 to Apr. 3) and then careening to within five minutes of the Stanley Cup final before Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings partypooped on Carlton St. Again, that was an outfit with modest expectation that came from nowhere to nearly compete for the big prize. Ferried by the indefatigable Gilmour, who amassed a club–record 35 points in 21 games. No person alive would have imagined the ’93 Leafs venturing to within proximity of the championship round. Fast forward 32 years and the same incredulity surrounds the Blue and White; this time, devoid of a playoff fulcrum. It is nearly sacreligious, in the spring, to mention Gilmour in the same voice as Auston Matthews. Yet Matthews, astoundingly, still has an opportunity to save face by channeling his inner–Gilmour (does it exist?) and leading the Maple Leafs to victory tonight in Sunrise; then back home against the defending champs on Sunday in Game 7. Of course, any pauper has a theoretical chance to win the national lottery. Such are the apparent odds of a Toronto revival in this playoff round.

Yet, no–such triumph, arguably in club annals, would enable ownership and management to crow and “get even” with those (myself included) that have uniformally decamped since the 2021 playoff humiliation against Montreal.

Were Matthews and Mitch Marner to suddenly overwhelm Sergei Bobrovsky, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand in consecutive elimination matches, this city would come to a screeching halt. The entire, sorry narrative of the Core–4 playoff era would flip like a light–switch, with the Leafs in the Stanley Cup semifinals (for the first time since 2002) against Soft–Goal Freddy and the Carolina Hurricanes. It would be the biggest blowout on Bay Street since the 2008 recession turned the corner. Brendan Shanahan would broadly smile in photos while wearing a TOLD YA SO! t–shirt. Rogers would officially re–brand Sportsnet as LeafsNet. The controlling companies, Rogers and Bell, would temporarily quadruple wireless rates as payback against the Leaf infidels, nationwide. Ed the Conqueror and his Baroness would make a quick, gleeful trip to Mar–a–Lago before Game 1 against the Hurricanes. The new franchise motto — UP YOUR ASS! — would appear on sign boards across town. Marner would commit for $14 million a season, prompting a sour Matthews (at a mere $13.25 million) to demand a trade.

Otherwise, all would be rosy.

Incredibly, this wayward possibility does exist. Even after the Leafs were outscored, 8–1, in the past two encounters. Even after the dog’s breakfast that polluted Scotiabank Arena throughout Game 5. No club has ever advanced in a best–of–seven round with three victories: the Florida total right now. An ageless cliché insists that “the fourth win is the most difficult” to obtain. If so, the Leafs will be squarely into tonight’s match til the very end — rather than capitulating before the anthems, as on Wednesday. Marner and Matthews will resemble the M&M boys of yore, when the latter erupted for 69 goals. “Daddy” Marchand will leave home ice with tail between his legs.

And then all of us will wake up… in a cold sweat. 😛

ON A SINCERE NOTE: For the series to continue after tonight, the Maple Leafs will need more than a large uptick in performance. The Panthers will, simultaneously, have to remove their feet from the pedal in an elimination game at home. Up until now, the coaching scheme of Paul Maurice has worked to perfection. Find the YouTube video of Maurice yelling at his players from behind the bench to “keep pounding the fu** out of their D! No let–up. They won’t have anything left for a Game 7.” That, during the third match of the playoff round. While so many (including me) have laser–focused on Auston Matthews, the Florida assault — particularly on the game, yet aging, Chris Tanev — is as much a story in this series as the dry spell of No. 34. I’m certain Maurice is also encouraging his charges to maintain the bushwhacking of Matthews and Mitch Marner. Most evidence points to them conceding. The coach is reminding his guys to “prevent Matthews from gaining inside–position in the slot; he’ll kill you from there. But, only if motivated. Knock that desire out of him early. As for Marner, watch him closely, but keep hacking away at him; he’ll withdraw to the perimeter. Same for [William] Nylander, who can really fire the puck. Don’t ignore him. But, focus on Tanev, Matthews and Marner. If that continues to work, we cannot lose.”

The Panthers, defending champs, can smell blood. They are well–versed in the “kill.”

If the Leafs can counter this on the road, they’ll be full value for Game 7, at home, on Sunday.

BETWEEN THE PAGES…

From my large collection of hockey magazines dating to the mid–1950’s. Covers, stories and photographs of great players and NHL moments, including Leafs legend Dave Keon; the beginning of the expansion era in 1967; Bobby Hull, Eddie Shack, Gilbert Perreault… and the March 1968 trade of Frank Mahovlich from Toronto to Detroit that stopped the hockey world in its tracks.

Enjoy this pictorial time warp:

 
 




 
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