Dreams for Even the Non-Partisan

We already know that, barring a major re-organization of the way in which the NHL does business, the Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens will never again play for the Stanley Cup.

Kinda sad.

The best they can possibly do is a conference final or the odd playoff series. They haven't met in the playoffs since 1979, and the Leafs haven't won a post-season game off the Habs since that memorable May 41 years ago.

Having covered the Leafs and the NHL since 1989, I've never covered a Leaf-Hab series, with of course the '93 playoffs having come the closest to producing that matchup before The Great One wrecked Canada's hockey party.

For the non-partisan, then, there is an obvious reason in these final two weeks of the season to hope the Leafs might be successful in their longshot attempt to qualify for the Stanley Cup tournament.

See, if the Leafs did make it, it would almost certainly be the Habs that would await them in the first round of the post-season.

Even if you absolutely despise the Habs or the Leafs, or both, you'd have to agree a playoff matchup would be a terrific spectacle for the game and the country.

Hab backers and many independent analysts, of course, would assert that Guy Carbonneau's quicksilver-like team would easily drub the Leafs, sweeping them just as they did in 1978 and 1979, and that might be true.

Montreal has a lethal power play, oodles of team speed, seemingly solid goaltending with Carey Price, outstanding leadership and the best arena atmosphere in the league.

What they don't have is a whole lot of playoff experience, with the club having failed to do much of anything in post-season play for 15 years. Alexei Kovalev, of course, has won a Cup, while the likes of Patrice Brisebois, Roman Hamrlik and Bryan Smolinski have been around the block a few times.

But this isn't a team loaded with playoff expertise among its most important players, particularly in goal, and under the right circumstances, that could make the Canadiens vulnerable to an early round upset.

No one would say today the Leafs could be the team to pull off that upset. But they have a hot goalie, and if they did manage to sneak into the playoffs, they'd surely be on a roll.

Moreover, a Montreal-Toronto playoff series next month would produce a unique dynamic that no one would be able to forecast with any great sense of confidence.

For the non-partisan, of course, it would just be great to see.

Comments

[Spencer]

"Having covered the Leafs and the NHL since 1989, I've never covered a Leaf-Hab series, with of course the '93 playoffs having come the closest to producing that matchup before The Great One wrecked Canada's hockey party." -- No Damien, referee Kerry Fraser wrecked that potential match up when The Greedy One got preferential treatment after high sticking/cutting Doug Gilmour. Lest we forget.

[Adam Zakrzewski]

Everyone should understand; the Leafs' playoff hopes is nothing more than a pipe dream. We should all stop talking about the Leafs making it to the playoffs, and just take their current success as what it is: good hockey entertainment.

[Bal Virk]

Just one correction, Damien. It was not the Great One that wrecked Canada's hockey party in 1993 - it was Kerry Fraser.

[Booard]

Leafs in 6. "Ole ole ole ole, ole, ole!"

[Chill]

There's another reason there will never be another Leafs / Habs Cup final, even through realignment, etc.: The Leafs don't play good hockey until the pressure is off because they've been virtually eliminated from playoff contention. Even if they make the playoffs this year (they won't), that would be celebrated by MLSE as a huge triumph long after they got knocked out in the first round.

My life-long Leafs fandom hasn't made me cynical has it?

[Tim Amor]

I feel like your blog post implies that the Leafs can make the playoffs... are you purposely fueling the desperate Leafs hopefuls?

[Lorne]

You guys make me laugh! Only in the T-dot do they discuss what could have been 15 years ago. Get over it! So you won't be inviting Kerry Fraser over for dinner. If memory serves me, the Leafs had another game after the "incident" and still couldn't close the deal and get to the finals. Or the 3 other times they made it to the conference finals since. Yes, the Habs track record since '93 has been poor, but you don't see the fans talk about what could have been, or how they were slighted by the refs. What they do is protest lowdly...and demand changes.

[mark]

Wow, "Damien the Glum" speculating on a Leafs/Habs first round series. I can't believe this is the same ink stained wretch who has been writing off this team since November. Well, all I can say Damien is welcome aboard ... and be careful not to snap your leg when you jump off (which I'm guessing will be by Thursday).

[dije]

While playing 86 games would be better than the usual 82, being embarassed by the Habs would really make the Habs season that much better for the fans.

Habs have hotter goaltending, actual depth and great special teams. They lack playoff experience, but have you checked out the Leafs roster? CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE

[John]

LEAFS DIDN'T LOSE IN 93 BECAUSE OF THE GREAT ONE.

THEY LOST BECAUSE OF BIASED REFFING THAT WANTED THE CUP IN LA.

[Dramer]

If the leafs did sneak in for eigth place which I don't think will happen. The Habs will destroy them four straight despite the officals trying to help the leafs as they do every time these two teams play. The Habs are too fast and skilled while the leafs are lacking in both of those areas. Don Cherry, Greg Millen and Ron Maclean will end up crying on NATIONAL TV.

[PPP]

"you don't see the fans talk about what could have been, or how they were slighted by the refs. What they do is protest lowdly...and demand changes."

That's an outright lie. Habs fans have never done anything different than Leaf fans. The myth of the Habs fans uprising is just that - a myth.

"Habs have hotter goaltending, actual depth and great special teams. They lack playoff experience, but have you checked out the Leafs roster? CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE"

I would kill to see that series because Vesa's hotter than Carey, the Habs have unproven depth just like the Leafs, and they have a great powerplay (middling penalty kill) but the Habs' problem is that powerplays go down in the playoffs. The Habs are not a good 5 on 5 team and that's what will cause their downfall in the playoffs.

Hopefully the Leafs will get a chance to exploit it.

[smokey]

Habs are having an outstanding year and are fun to watch but they have to be the surprise team of the year. They missed the playoffs last year and most of the so called experts predicted likewise again this year. If you look at the head to head games with the Leafs, it shows how fine a line it is between first and being outside the playoffs really is.

As much as I wish otherwise, I don't think we really need to worry about the Leafs making the playoffs and for me, I'll be rooting for the Habs.

[Drew]

hey Spencer .. you and virtually every other Leaf fan conveniently forget that Gilmour himself should have had a penalty before Gretzky ever did anything to poor Dougie ... selective memory, eh??? so let's re-write history ... Gilmour is in the penalty box, and Gretzky can't touch him ... happy now?? ... go ahead and delude yourselves ... the closest you'll get to a cup for a loooong time! Plenty of games could have had different results is only for the post/penalty/missed penalty/lucky bounce/etc ... dream on!!

[King Leary]

I'm a die - hard Leaf fan, but can the rest of you die - hard Leafs fans give it a rest with blaming '93 on Kerry Fraser. It was game 6 - so he missed a call - big deal - it was GAME 6!!!! We had game 7 at MLG - and we lost. Blame the Leafs for losing the series.

And John, you keep on believing your biased ref theory/fantasy.

Leafs fans are as bad as Red Sox fans blaming Bill Buckner - yes, he made a huge error in game 6 as well. The Red Sox still lost game 7 of the '86 world series.

[Barb]

Damien, normally I love your blog, but PLEASE don't even think about Leafs making the playoffs. They don't deserve to be there as demonstrated by tonight's spanking by the Bruins who have played deplorable hockey of late. If you want some first round excitement from a team who might sneak into the playoffs - how about the Caps - Huet vs. Price, Ovechkin vs. Kovalev - that would be a real series. Not the clutch and grab of the Leafs, the antics of the Tuckers and McCabes. The sooner those boys head to the golf course, the better it is for hockey. And please people, get over the Gretzky non-call. LA was the better team and still bowed to the Habs 4 games to 1. What were the Leafs going to do? Show up with Dougie Divemour and get blown away 4 straight. That might have been fun.

[Hockey Fan, therefore by Definition Not a Leaf Fan]

Let's play a little game. Let's name a DECADE in which the Laff's won more Cups than the Habs.
2000's 0:0
1990's 1:0 Habs
1980's 1:0 Habs
1970's 6:0 Habs
And now the 60's, that heyday of the Laff's dynasty: 5:4 HABS!
1950's: 5:1 Habs
1940's: 2:5 Leafs
1930's: 2:1 Habs

So basically, you have to be 70 years plus old to remember the Laff's being a better organization that the Habs.

So Mr Cox., and all the delusional Laff fans, please, please, stop comparing the Toronto organization to a real hockey club. Montreal has been a superior organization for 60 years, and will likely continue for another 60 years. As of tonight, we can FINALLY stop talking about the Laff's and concentrate on real hockey, which Mr. Cox has done more of the last few articles.

[Mark]

Hey Drew ... you're out to lunch. Don't yammer about selective memory until you watch that game again. Fraser is responsible for the Leafs being bounced from the '93 playoffs. Everyone knows. Let me guess ... you're related to either Gretzky or Fraser. It wouldn't surprise me.

[Tim Tubbs]

What a joke....."a terrific spectacle for the game AND the country".The "country" has not got excited over a Leaf vs. Canadian game for many years.
A terrific spectacle would be Edmonton vs. Calgary,Calgary vs.Vancouver or maybe Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh.Better still any of the three(Flames,Oilers or Canucks) against Ottawa OR Montreal.
The Leafs(like the Jays,Argos and the Raptors)are "zero" outside of southern Ontario.
They are both a joke AND an embarrassment out here in the west.

[wally coltman]

thank God it is spring again and with it comes the inevitable demise of the Mapole Leafs. now us hockey fans can look forward to some real hockey and not be subjected to any more Leaf rhetoric. this is the best time of year for Southern Ontario hockey fans who are no longer forced to watch subpar Leaf hockey.The Loser Nation has made their millions again at the expense of their fans.

[Doug S]

From your article today Damien: "With on-ice leadership like that, it's no surprise the next playoff game played at the ACC will be at least five years since the last one". - Sorry dude but you're wrong - the next playoff game at teh ACC will be in April with teh Raptors. Leaf Nation needs to get over itself.

[Lorne]

"the Habs have unproven depth just like the Leafs". I'm sorry, what unproven depth do the Leafs have? I thought they traded it away for Leetch/Nolan/Raycroft/Toskala? Although I would say the Toskala trade was the right thing for the Leafs, I fail to see what depth they have coming up with potential beyond a 4th line on any other team? To compare the Habs younsters to the Leafs youngsters makes no sense. The Habs have been stockpiling talent since Gainey took over in 2003, and have some of the best scouting and talent development personnel in the NHL (thanks to Gainey).
I truly hope the Leafs can turn it around with a great visionary GM so we can see some entertaining Leaf/Habs playoff series' in the future.

[I hate Barb]

Barb, I'm sure you got all hot and bothered by the "exciting" Pat Conacher versus Donald Dufresne matchup in that LA-Habs '93 final. Wendel would have run roughshod over those stinkin Habs, no question about it.

[Miles Hershberg]

Raptors are the new Leafs. TJ Ford playing terrible cried and now he is the starter. Andrea Barngani spent one year and 60 games as a shooting guard playing outside the three. Finally last game they played him in by the key and he played well. Now he is benched. Raptors have the young stars but Sam Mitchell does everything humanly possible to screw it up.

Against Orlando Raptors are tied going into the fourth. We are playing a small line which makes us even worse at rebounding. They bring in Dwight Howard. Howard is the most dominant rebounder and the most dominant dunker in the league. They have two 6'10" forwards out. Sam's responce? He does nothing. They dunk. TJ hogs the ball. Howard has 5 dunks. TJ a 44% shooter shoots five for 9 and throws five away in six minutes. TJ never let anyone else take a shot. Now TJ is the starter.

With your biting humor you should diversify and cover the Raptors also. Smith and Sam are obviously lovers because in Smith's book Sam is always right. Reach Chisolm of espn and how he cuts up Sam. I am tired of Sam virgin status. He was ranked the worst coach in the league before Colangelo came and nothing has changed except he has better players to ruin.

[25Cups]

heh, love it when Damien pokes the Leaf fan.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda, didn't.

Leaf fan got his/her video at the end of 1993, rewind it. They couldn't beat Gretzky, the Habs cleaned his clock. They should've made the Finals, they had a game 7 yet Gretzky cleaned their clocks. They would've beat the Habs had they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Habs would've taken the series 4-0 (hey, its fun to speculate). The worst thing that can ever happen to our country's great game is for Toronto to win the silver mug. The Leaf fan arrogance would, um, choke the nation.