The Chris Kreider trade and intense playoff action forced me to delay "Ask The Maven" by a day. So, here goes with a question from Bruce Gottlieb of New Paltz. (Take it away, Bruce.)
CAN YOU RECALL THE MOST EXCITING PLAYOFF SERIES IN YOUR LIFETIME Maven's Reply: Because there were so many – and I do mean MANY – over the years, I have to take them a decade at a time. And I'll never forget the first major playoff thrill.
I became a Maple Leafs fan in 1942 but really got serious about it in 1946 when I saw the Leafs live for the first time at Madison Square Garden in March 1946. Even though I lived in Brooklyn, I was so nuts about Toronto that in October 1946 I began subscribing to the Toronto Globe and Mail newspaper. It came in the mail only a day later and, naturally, it was always filled with Leafs stories.
The fall of 1946 was when Toronto hockey boss Conn Smythe began rebuilding his club with younger players such as Bill Ezinicki, Jimmy Thomson, Gus Mortson and Howie Meeker. Imagine, four out of his five defensemen were rookies.
Those Leafs weren't supposed to do much because of all the youngsters but they not only made the playoffs, they reached the Cup Final against the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. That 1947 Final against the Habs ranks among my favorites.
For starters, the underdog Leafs got whipped in the opening game 6-0 by Montreal. But coach Hap Day rallied his club to a point where they led three games to two entering Game Six at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Toronto won the game, 2-1 and The Stanley Cup. To that point it was the most exciting sports event of my young life – I was 15-years-old at the time and still cannot contain my enthusiasm when I think about it – like right now!
Thanks for the question!