From the Archives

To say that feelings of hate existed between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings during the 1946-47 season would be the understatement of the half-century. And during the 1947 playoffs, one game had an incredible 27 penalties.

Since there was nothing in the National Hockey League's 1950-51 rulebook that forbade the Rangers from drinking a "magic elixir" to gain a playoff berth, the Blueshirts did sip -- and sip and sip.

Stan Fischler looks at the crazy 1951 Stanley Cup playoffs, which included a game being cancelled in overtime due to a city ordinance that prohibited games from being played on a Sunday.

Stan Fischler looks back at how some mid-1940s acquisitions helped the Toronto Maple Leafs find success.

Stan Fischler looks at how the underdog 1947 Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup, and how lessons from that year can be a case for inspiration for the modern day team that's looking to finally end its playoff drought.

Stan Fischler looks at the work of one of hockey's first and most famous cartoonists, Willard Mullin, who specialized in fantastic drawings of goaltenders.

Stan Fischler looks at how the New York Rangers moved through the struggles of trying to ice a competitive team during World War II.

Stan Fischler looks back at a hockey photo that has stuck with him for over 70 years, and just how different the careers were for everyone involved.

Regarded as the Royal Family of Canadian sport, the Toronto-born quartet was a force you didn't want to mess with in the early days of the NHL. Stan Fischler looks back at one of hockey's most famous families.

Was there ever a tougher, more competent National Hockey League team than the Toronto Maple Leafs following the end of World War II? At one point, they weren't afraid to scuffle with anyone, writes Stan Fischler.

Stan Fischler looks back at the biggest goal of Bill Barilko's career, the game-winning goal to lead Toronto to the 1951 Stanley Cup just months before his tragic death.

The 1942-43 edition of the New York Rangers was by far the worst team in the league. But some unusual circumstances made them a profit monster, and the fans kept coming.

Long before there was Bobby Orr and the Big, Bad Bruins, there was a Boston sextet in the early 1950's that was big and sometimes "bad"; but not "bad" enough to suit one of the Beantown defensemen.

In 1951, NHL owners were worried that television broadcasts were killing in-person ticket sales. At the time, some wondered if teams would be forced to shutdown due to lost revenue. Stan Fischler looks back at a weird time for the NHL's Original Six.

The upcoming All-Star Game in Las Vegas will provide an arresting contrast to the one played a half-century ago in Toronto. Stan Fischler looks back at the unique format the NHL tried at the time, and how it didn't work.

Overtime or not? That was the question when the Lords of Hockey convened at Manhattan's Park Lane Hotel on Dec. 11, 1952. And it was an important issue; especially to teams in Boston, New York and Chicago, writes Stan Fischler.

When the Red Wings broke a record in 1952, Stan Fischler was there to witness it. He shares his thoughts on one of the proudest moments in Detroit's hockey history.

If you're wondering why the National Hockey League presents an annual Maurice Richard Trophy, Stan Fischler is here to present why.

The NHL moved to a double-referee system for 1998-99, but it wasn't the first time such a change was considered. Stan Fischler looks back at an idea thrown around back in 1952.

There was much hoopla when the NHL introduced a penalty when a player closed their hand on a puck. As Stan Fischler points out, it was an unpopular decision around the league.

Today, NHL teams have video review departments to go over games and analyze plays. But back in the 1950s, Conn Smythe got the whole concept started – and it worked, even with some hilarious hiccups along the way.

A strange thing happened when Stan Fischler walked into Madison Square Garden on the evening of March 23, 1952. He recounted it in this week's From the Archives.

This week on From the Archives, Stan Fischler looks back at the first NHL all-star game and what it meant being able to watch the league's top stars play together for the first time.

A young Stan Fischler remembers the day his favorite NHL player joined his favorite NHL team and how Max Bentley became a big contributor for the Leafs.