PHILADELPHIA (Apr. 29) -- Can it really be 30 years ago tonight?
Any follower of the Toronto Maple Leafs currently approaching middle-age should easily recall where he or she was on Apr. 29, 1978. And the emotions that spilled into all parts of the city after the greatest single achievement of the Harold Ballard era. It was around 11 p.m. on that Saturday night when Lanny McDonald fooled Glenn (Chico) Resch with a deadly-accurate shot to put the Maple Leafs into the Stanley Cup semifinals for the only time in Ballard's ownership tenure (1972-90). McDonald's low wrister from 30 feet capped off a brutally physical, back-and-forth series with the favoured New York Islanders -- giving Toronto the victory in overtime of Game 7 at the Nassau Coliseum. That the Leafs went on to get annhiliated by Montreal in a four-game semifinal is almost forgotten by those who lived and died with the club of that era.
So novel, in fact, was a Maple Leaf triumph of any import that McDonald's goal prompted a virtual stampede to Pearson International Airport. Thousands of delirious fans jammed the old Malton Terminal One to greet the club when its chartered jet arrived just after 2 a.m. -- a gathering that clearly surprised airport staff, for security was non-existent. McDonald, Darryl Sittler, King Clancy, coach Roger Neilson and others gleefully mingled with the ecstatic, but well-controlled throng. Sittler was carried part-way through the terminal on the shoulders of several fans. McDonald was mobbed by arms and hands reaching at him from all directions. One character presented a bemused Neilson with two pieces of charred bread to commemorate the vow made by rambunctious winger Dave (Tiger) Williams after Game 6 -- that the Islanders were "burnt toast." The Leafs had romped to a 5-2 victory in that sixth match at Maple Leaf Gardens, catapulting their bodies at any New York player that happened to get in the way.
Celebrated rookie Mike Bossy was carried from the ice on a stretcher after being nudged into end-boards from behind by Toronto checker Jerry Butler. Thankfully, Bossy quickly regained feeling in his extremities and returned for Game 7. But, the image of Bossy laying motionless epitomized the Leafs' physical domination of the Islanders in that series.
I've often been asked through the years why Leaf fans remember the McDonald overtime goal so vividly. After all, it was merely a quarterfinal series victory, and no club in the NHL was going to beat the dynastic Canadiens of the late-'70s. The answer, however, is easy: It was such a radical departure from the norm. The Maple Leafs, of course, had won the Stanley Cup 11 years earlier, but were more accustomed to either exiting the playoffs early, or failing to qualify. The 1967 championship was followed by playoff misses in 1968, 1970 and 1973. First-round elimination occurred in 1969, 1971 and 1974. Only when the league adopted a best-of-three preliminary round in 1975 (for a period of seven years) were the Leafs finally able to advance -- knocking off Los Angeles twice, Pittsburgh twice, and the Atlanta Flames between '75 and '79. Toronto swept the Kings in consecutive games in the '78 preliminaries to hook up with the Islanders, and set the stage for McDonald's dramatic goal.
Also, the Maple Leafs were chronically inept in playoff overtimes during the decade -- going 2-for-7. The Rangers' Bob Nevin had eliminated them with a goal in '71; Ken Hodge of the Bruins had sent the Leafs packing in '74, and Andre (Moose) Dupont of Philadelphia ended Toronto's season in '75 -- all three clinchers occurring at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Leafs had lost two previous games of the Islanders series in extra time, so it was almost a fait accompli that New York would similarly dispatch them in Game 7. That's why McDonald's goal unleashed such emotion in the city. From the vanatagepoint of a Leafs' supporter, it was an incomprehendable twist of fortune.
And, it happened 30 years ago tonight. Unreal.
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Nothing has yet been decided about the Ottawa Senators' head coaching vacancy, but whispers are growing louder that Pat Quinn could be hired by general manager Bryan Murray. It's a suggestion I made in this corner last summer, when Murray had assumed the GM's role from John Muckler and was looking for someone to replace himself behind the bench. Instead, Murray opted for assistant coach John Paddock, only to fire him in late-February of the current season. Quinn's coaching resume is well-documented, and he maintains a burning desire to return to the NHL. John Ferguson fired him in Toronto after the 2005-06 season, and Quinn claims he later erred by turning down a chance to coach in Boston. He recently guided Canada to the under-18 world championship in Russia.
After being tormented by Quinn's Leafs during four playoff rounds in the first half of this decade, Ottawa hockey fans would quickly align with the classy Irishman. Hiring him would only enhance the burgeoning rivalry between the Ontario-based teams. I think it would be a terrific move on Murray's part.
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Though I picked Dallas to knock off San Jose in six games, I would have bet the farm against the Stars repeating their opening-round achievement by winning the first two encounters on the road in California. Dallas did it against Anaheim and dethroned the Stanley Cup champs. Now, the Stars return home with another 2-0 series lead. But, beware of the sleeping dog. The Sharks have played as comfortably on the road as any team in the league this season.
I remember covering the 2004 Western Conference final between San Jose and Calgary. The home team didn't win until Game 6, when the Flames advanced to the Cup final against Tampa Bay. Don't be shocked if this series follows a similar pattern.
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I generally like TSN's Gord Miller as a hockey broadcaster, but the primal sound that comes out of him when he calls a scoring play kind of scares me. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard a human being make such a noise. It's a gutteral upsurge that one would normally expect to be followed by a violent bout of nausea. But, Gord is able to do it over and over without damaging his vocal cords. Or barfing. And that's quite an accomplishment.
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