when. . . whenPittsburgh Penguins officially eliminatedBeginning with the 2023 NHL playoffs, they finished their record 16 consecutive playoff appearances. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins now have the longest postseason winning streak, currently seven years.
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During those seven years, people developed a lot of affection for the Leafs Nation. Unfortunately for the Maple Leafs, they haven't made it past the first round in seven years. Plus, they haven't made it past the first round of the playoffs since the "salary cap era" began in 2005-06. However, Toronto has the best team we've seen as fans since the 2005-06 season and will face a weaker opponent in the Tampa Bay Lightning. So let's take a look at the last six times the Maple Leafs made the playoffs and how they finished.
the beginning of the Matthews era
To startauston matthewsTimes in Toronto are extraordinary. It all started when he scored 4 goals in a game against the Ottawa Senators on October 12, 2016. This continued until the Leafs clinched their first playoff berth since 2013. However, they faced a tough opponent in the first round. , the veteran. Washington Capitals. The Capitals are the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Maple Leafs are the #2 wild card. That means they need to beat Washington and Pittsburgh in the first two rounds. Despite the Capitals having Alex Ovechkin and company, Toronto did everything they could to push five of the six games in the series to overtime (OT).
The Leafs lost Game 1 of the series 3-2 in overtime, but rallied to win Game 2 4-2 in double overtime. They returned to Toronto, and the series was even. Somehow they managed to steal Game 3 4-2 in overtime and lead the series 2-1. Unfortunately, the Maple Leafs lost the next three games, 5-4 in overtime, 2-1, 2-1 in extension. . Unfortunately for the Leafs Nation, the playoffs came to an end after just six games. However, it's not ideal and a step in the right direction for a young core with huge potential.
seven games against Boston
After posting a 49-26-7 record, the Maple Leafs once again have a spot in the 2018 NHL playoffs. However, this time they brought on their old foe, the Boston Bruins. The Bruins dramatically eliminated the Leafs in the 2013 playoffs and made a dramatic comeback in Game 7. That's when Toronto finally got its revenge, and sadly, it didn't. Boston got off to a strong start to the series, winning its first two games 5-1 and 7-3. This caused many in the Leafs nation to fear that the Bruins would destroy the club again. The Maple Leafs fought back to win Game 3 4-2 but lost Game 4, however they would win Games 5 and 6, 4-3 and 3-1, forcing them into Game 7.
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A dismal Game 7 against the team with the best record of 2013 put a lot of pressure on the Leafs players. Sadly, the results of Game 7 in 2017 were all too familiar to the Leafs Nation, as the Bruins again lost to Toronto 7–4. There's a lot of potential in this team and at its core, but they just can't find that "killer instinct" to close out games.
Seven games against Boston again
After a long offseason,Sign striker John Tavares, The Boys in Blue are back for another season. They finished with a 46-28-8 record and a third straight playoff appearance. The playoff matchup is set, with the Maple Leafs tying the Bruins for the second year in a row. However, this series is different from the 2018 series as Toronto proved they were on top of the previous year. They won Game 1 4-1, but Boston won Game 2 4-1. After that, teams would go back and forth to split the series into three games, forcing another Game 7.
This Game 7 is the second in a row for the Maple Leafs, so they should take advantage of it. Unfortunately, the Demons in Game 7 were too much for them and they lost another one in the first round. Boston topped the standings with a 5-1 lead going into the final game, ending another strong season for the Maple Leafs.
bubble year
2020 is the year that no one will forget because March 11, 2020 is theThe world is paralyzed by the COVID-19 pandemicSo for the safety of everyone around the world, the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB have suspended their leagues. Both the NHL and the NBA have decided to keep the playoffs in a bubble so that players are not at risk. The NHL hosts the bubble playoffs in Toronto, Ontario for teams from the Eastern Conference and in Edmonton, Alberta for teams from the Western Conference. The season was cut short due to the suspension. The Maple Leafs are 36-25-9 and have a best-of-five qualifying game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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In a series that most pundits thought the Maple Leafs would dominate, the Blue Jackets struggled. The series went back and forth, with Toronto eliminated 2-0 in Game 1 and then Columbus 3-0 in Game 2. They won Games 3 and 4 4-3 in overtime, including a comeback Maple Leafs win. three goals to force a Game 5.
Unfortunately, history repeated itself in Game 5, and the Leafs lost yet another series. The Blue Jackets beat Toronto 3-0 to advance to the next round of the bubble playoffs. As for the Maple Leafs, their playoff demons continue, with their "win now" window shortened by a year.
Six Original Fighting Hegemonies
The NHL needed changes for the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the 2021 NHL season. The NHL had to reshuffle four divisions to eliminate international travel. In this way, the seven Canadian teams were divided into the "Northern Division", paving the way for the Maple Leafs to have the best route to the Stanley Cup Final. After a truncated 56-game season, his 35-14-7 record was good enough for a division title. In the first round, the Maple Leafs tied their greatest opponent in NHL history; Montreal Canadians.
In a season that was viewed as their year, the Leafs were tipped to edge out Montreal in the first round. After losing Game 1 2-1, Toronto took over, winning their next three games and taking control of the series 3-1. They have the Canadiens on the brink of elimination, but could finish the series for the first time since the date. beginning of the Matthews era? Sadly no, the Canadiens won games 5, 6 and 7 and lost their fifth straight first round. This left many members of the Leafs Nation wondering how they managed to break their series lead and not close out in Game 5 or 6 of OT. The losses in this series may be the hardest to swallow as hopes surround the team and how close they are to finally making it past the first round.
seven games against defending champions
The 2021-22 season is finally the year the NHL gets back on track. The league and division are normal, with a season of 82 games. The Maple Leafs are 54-21-7, setting the record for most wins in a single season in franchise history. They were tied with the two-time cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. The expectation is that the series will be very positive and show that the Maple Leafs can compete with the best teams in the NHL.
related:Maple Leafs/Clashes rivalry as usual
The series got off to a dramatic start when Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford hit Chargers forward Ross Colton, leading to Clifford's five-minute hit and game misconduct. That didn't stop Toronto, however, who dominated Tampa to win Game 1 5-0. After that, like every other series in the last five years, it went back and forth. The teams tied the series 3-3 and the Maple Leafs played Game 7. However, this game may be the most anticipated and stressful Game 7 for Toronto's core. Unfortunately, they couldn't take the pressure and lost 2-1, raising questions about who would transfer in the offseason to try and change the culture.
Another long offseason, the Maple Leafs decided to bet on themselves and bring back all the core members. Maple Leafs general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas also joined for the 2022-23 season, but did not re-sign for the 2023-24 season. Which begs the question, is this your last season? Or can he lead the team to eventual playoff success? Well, if the 2023 trade deadline is any indication, he's doing everything he can to help this team win.
Acquired Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari from the St. Luis Blues andSam Raffertyand Jack McCabe of the Chicago Blackhawks. Two strong plays should help the Leafs make a big playoff run. He stillAcquire Luke Shane from the Vancouver Canucks, and Eric Gustafson of the Washington Capitals did not give up key team members. Ultimately, he parted ways with Rasmus Sandin and Pierre Engvall, reshaping the back six and adding defensive depth.
It's no secret that the Leafs are hoping to blow the roof off Scotiabank Arena when they finally turn in a big Stanley Cup performance. It looks like this could be the year it happens. They drafted the Chargers again in the first round and have struggled since the schedule change. Their signings this season seem to fit well into the team's system and should make their first round easier.
Only time will tell what happens in the 2023 NHL playoffs, but with the aggressive team making the playoffs, the Maple Leafs could be on a roll in the Lord Stanley Cup.
FAQs
Maple Leafs struggle with a 7-year playoff streak? ›
The Maple Leafs were 0 for 7 in playoff appearances from 2013 to 2022, including first-round exits each of the past six seasons. To get past Tampa Bay, Toronto won three times in overtime on the road and ended the Lightning's run of three straight appearances in the Stanley Cup Final.
What is the longest losing streak for the Leafs? ›Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs have multiple losing streaks among the top 50 all time longest NHL losing streaks. The 11 game losing streak by the 2014-15 Toronto Maple Leafs is the 40th longest in NHL history, the 11 game losing streak by the 1957-58 Toronto Maple Leafs is the 40th longest.
How many years have the Leafs lost in the first round of playoffs? ›| Year | Record | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 46-28-8 | Lost First Round (Won 0 Rounds) |
| 2018 | 49-26-7 | Lost First Round (Won 0 Rounds) |
| 2017 | 40-27-15 | Lost First Round (Won 0 Rounds) |
| 2016 | 29-42-11 | Missed Playoffs |
The Patriots hold the record for most consecutive playoff games won. From 2001–2005, New England won 10 games in a row, including 3 Super Bowls. The Packers previously held the record for most consecutive playoff games won with 9. Dallas, Pittsburgh, Denver and San Francisco all have 7 game winning streaks.
When was the last time the Leafs didn't make it to the playoffs? ›The Toronto Maple Leafs recently ended a 19-year playoff series drought, which started on April 20, 2004, till the captain John Tavares ended that streak on April 29, 2023. During the team's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it wasn't just the captain that came alive when the team needed it.
What is the longest streak of making the playoffs NHL? ›Which NHL team has the most consecutive playoff appearances all time? The Boston Bruins have the record for most consecutive playoff appearances at 29 seasons. The streak started in 1968 and went until 1996. During this stretch the Bruins won 2 Stanley Cups.
How many times have the Leafs lost in game 7? ›Since 2017, the Leafs have lost four Game 7s: twice to the Boston Bruins (2018, 2019), once to the Montreal Canadiens (2021) and to the Lightning.
What is the longest streak without a loss NHL? ›The Pittsburgh Penguins hold the record for the longest winning streak in NHL history at 17 games, which was set in the 1992–93 season; that team won the Presidents' Trophy for having the league's best record of 56–21–7.
What NFL team has never been to the playoffs? ›They are as follows: Atlanta Falcons. Arizona Cardinals. Buffalo Bills.
How long have the Leafs not won the Stanley Cup? ›| Team | Last Stanley Cup Win | Current Length of Drought |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Blues | 2019 | 3 years |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 2021 | 1 year |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1967 | 55 years |
| Vancouver Canucks | Never | 52 years |
What year did the Leafs last win? ›
The franchise was sold in 1927 and was renamed the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club. The team colours are navy blue and white. The Maple Leafs have won thirteen Stanley Cup championships, second only to the 24 championships of their primary rival, the Montreal Canadiens. They won their last championship in 1967.
When was the last time the Leafs made it to the Cup? ›It's been 56 years since the Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in 1967, marking their last appearance in the finals. They advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals five times in the 1960s and won three consecutive championships between 1962 and 1964 before adding the franchise's 13th and final title in 1967.
Has there ever been a perfect playoff run in the NHL? ›The regular-season Montreal Canadiens' momentum did not stop as they played eight games, the minimum number to win the Stanley Cup. Montreal, in the process, became the last Cup winners in NHL history to go perfect in the playoffs to date.
Who holds the longest scoring streak in NHL? ›- 51 Games - Wayne Gretzky (Oct. 5, 1983 - Jan. 27, 1984) ...
- 46 Games - Mario Lemieux (Oct. 31, 1989 - Feb. 11, 1990) ...
- 39 Games - Wayne Gretzky (Nov. 3, 1985 - Jan. 25, 1986)
The record for the longest point streak in NHL history is 51 games, which is held by none other than the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky.
How many series clinching games have the Leafs lost in a row? ›...
Most Consecutive Playoff Rounds Lost - All-Time.
| Team | No. of Consecutive losses | Years |
|---|---|---|
| New York Islanders | 8 | 1993-93 - 2014-15 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 8 | 2003-04 - 2021-22 |
Which team has won the most Stanley Cups? The team with the most Stanley Cup wins is the Montreal Canadiens, who have won 23 Stanley Cups. The team with the second most Stanley Cup wins is the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have won 13 Stanley Cups.
Will the Leafs make the playoffs 2023? ›The Maple Leafs have advanced in the 2023 NHL playoffs.
How many years in a row has Toronto lost in Game 7? ›Toronto, which hasn't advanced to the second round since 2004, has lost its first playoff series in six consecutive seasons.
What was the biggest playoff Game 7 loss? ›Louis Bombers who lost to the Philadelphia Warriors 85-46 in the 1948 BAA (Basketball Association of America) semifinals.
How many Stanley Cups have gone to Game 7? ›
The Stanley Cup Final has been decided in a Game 7 on 17 occasions since the NHL went to a best-of-7 format in 1939.
Who has the fewest games to 1000 NHL points? ›Player achievements
Of the eight defenseman to score 1,000 points, the fewest NHL games required was 770, set by Paul Coffey. The slowest player to achieve 1,000 points was Patrick Marleau with 1,349 games followed by Nicklas Lidstrom with 1,336.
1984: Wayne Gretzky's 51-game point streak, the longest in NHL history, ends when the Los Angeles Kings keep him off the scoresheet and defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 at Northlands Coliseum.
Who has the longest streak not winning playoff series in NHL history? ›The Toronto Maple Leafs have the longest active playoff series win drought at 17 seasons. The Florida Panthers had the longest playoff series win drought in league history at 24 seasons. The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active drought for missing the playoffs at 12 consecutive seasons. It is also a league record.
Who is historically the worst NFL team? ›The Tampa Bay Buccaneers maintain the lowest regular season win–loss percentage (. 404), holding a 299–442–1 record through 2022. Being the most-recently founded franchise in the NFL, the Houston Texans have recorded the fewest games played (338) and wins (142).
Who has the worst playoff history in the NFL? ›| TEAM | GP | REC |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 20 | 7-13 |
| Cleveland Browns | 33 | 12-21 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 26 | 10-16 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 31 | 12-19 |
...
| 1992 San Diego Chargers season | |
|---|---|
| Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Chiefs) 17–0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 0–31 |
The Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in sports because the winner must play sometimes 16 playoff games, and sometimes 28 total games before being deemed a champion. Compared to the other regular seasons of other sports games, the competition level at the Stanley Cup playoffs gets more difficult and exciting.
What was the longest Stanley Cup game? ›1. Red Wings vs. Montreal Maroons: 176 minutes, 3 seconds (6 OTs) The longest game in NHL history remains the battle between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Maroons. Chabot, the same goalie for the Maple Leafs in 1933, was in net for Montreal and Detroit had Normie Smith.
How many players never won Stanley Cup? ›In fact, there are a total of 24 players currently in the Hall of Fame today that have never won the prestigious Stanely Cup trophy. One goaltender, three defensemen, and 20 forwards make up this rare group.
How many 67 Leafs are still alive? ›
Eight players from the '67 Maple Leafs are still alive. The youngest is right wing Ron Ellis, who is 77 years old..
Who was the last leaf to win a scoring title? ›Gordie Drillon was the last Toronto Maple Leaf player to win an NHL scoring title. It was before World War II. In fact, it was before the NHL's “Original Six” era. No Maple Leaf player has even come close to winning a scoring title since Drillon won it in 1938.
Who owns Leafs? ›A unique feature of the Stanley Cup is that, with few exceptions in the past, it is the only trophy in professional sports that has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved on it, but this has not always been the case as some teams did not engrave their names on the Cup for unknown ...
Are the bands removed from the Stanley Cup? ›Every 13 years when the bottom band of the Stanley Cup is filled with names of champions, the top band is removed and retired to be displayed in the vault of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The four bands below it are slid up one place and a new blank band added to the bottom.
When was the last time the Leafs won the first-round? ›TORONTO IN 2004
It's been almost 20 years since Leafs Nation has been able to enjoy a first-round victory like they did in the spring of 2004, and needless to say, Toronto looked a lot different then.
No one has ever gone 16–0 in the playoffs. There have been a few 8–0 back when the cup was decided in 2 rounds. Also a 12–1 when they moved to three rounds. The best team in recent history is the kings in 11–12 going 16–4 and the record for best playoffs is 16–2 by the 87–88 oilers.
Has anyone won the Stanley Cup in 4 games? ›In six seasons, the Stanley Cup champion won in a four-game sweep. Note: In all NHL playoff series from 1987-2011, 55 ended after a four-game sweep; 97 went the full seven games.
Has anyone won the Stanley Cup in 16 games? ›The chart below shows the number of playoff games needed to win the Stanley Cup since 1987, by year, team and number of games. Since the expansion of each playoff round to seven games in 1987, none have swept all four rounds to hoist the Cup in 16 games, nor have any skated in four Game 7s using all 28 possible games.
Who has the quickest games to 1000 points in the NHL? ›26, 1961, when he took the ice for Detroit in Chicago. 424 -- Number of games needed by Wayne Gretzky to score his first 1,000 points, by far the fewest of any player. Gretzky needed 433 more games to score his second 1,000 points. After Gretzky, Mario Lemieux was the next-fastest to 1,000 at 513 games.
How many games did Gretzky play without a point? ›
Wayne Gretzky played 266 games with exactly 0 points.
Who has the most games without a Stanley Cup? ›Phil Housley holds the record for playing in the most games in NHL history without winning a Stanley Cup.
Who was the fastest to 100 points NHL? ›Player achievements
In addition, Gretzky holds the record as the quickest – and second quickest – to achieve 100 points in a season, scoring his 100th point in game 34 of the 1983–84 season, followed by scoring his 100th point in game 35 of the 1984–85 season.
Herb Cain has the fewest games with 80+ points in a season, with 49 games in 1943-44.
Who has the most hat tricks in a row in the NHL? ›The most consecutive hat tricks (three-or-more goal games) belongs to Joe Malone, (1917–18 and again later in the same season).
Who has the longest point streak as a team for the Leafs? ›Marner joined Darryl Sittler and Eddie Olczyk with the longest point streak in team history at 18 games after scoring an empty-net goal in last night's win against the Sharks. Mitch Marner has made Maple Leafs history, and there was no better way to do it than on home ice in his hometown.
How many times have the Leafs lost? ›Over their 104 seasons, the Leafs have won 3000 regular season games, lost over 2800 regular season games, accumulated six division championships, led the league in points six times, appeared in the playoffs 71 times, gained eight O'Brien Cup championships, and won 13 Stanley Cup titles.
Who was the last leaf to score 60? ›Pastrnak did it in 80 games. McDavid reached the milestone in 72 games, one fewer than it took Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs to score 60 goals in 2021-22. It's the first time the NHL has had a 60-goal scorer in consecutive seasons since it had one in 14 straight from 1980-81 to 1993-94.
Who is the fastest Leafs to 500 points? ›Watch as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews becomes the fastest player in franchise history to reach 500 points, picking up a secondary assist on a booming slapshot goal from William Nylander against the St. Louis Blues.
Who has the longest 40 point game streak? ›The longest such streak belongs to Wilt Chamberlain at 14 games, per Stathead. Even more remarkable is that Chamberlain actually had two different 40-point streaks of 14 games, and they both came during his historic 1961-62 season when he averaged 50.4 points per game.
When was the last time the Leafs had 100 points in a season? ›
Darryl Sittler recorded 100 points for the Maple Leafs in 1975-76.
What was the worst start in Leafs history? ›The 2009–10 Toronto Maple Leafs season is the franchise's 93rd, and their 83rd as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs had not qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2003–04 season, and began the regular season with its worst start in franchise history by going winless in the first eight games. Dion Phaneuf (Mar.
Why didn t the Leafs goal count? ›This Toronto Maple Leafs goal is disallowed after review. The ruling is there was a kicking motion and therefore not a goal.
How many years have the Leafs not won the Cup? ›Not only was 1967 the last time Toronto hoisted the Stanley Cup, but it was also the last Final appearance for the organization. The team's 55-year championship drought is the longest in the NHL.
Who hit Gretzky on the leaf? ›He retired following the 1987–88 IHL season. Bill McCreary is most remembered for his open ice hit on Wayne Gretzky on January 3, 1981. The myth that McCreary never played another shift in the NHL is false – the January 3 game was McCreary's second game in his 12-game NHL career.
Who was the last leaf to score 50 goals? ›Matthews, 24, went No. 1 to the Leafs in the 2016 NHL Draft. He's become one of the most prolific goal scorers in the NHL, currently having 249 goals in his career. Matthews joins Rick Vaive, Gary Leeman and Dave Andreychuk as the only Leafs players to score 50 goals in a season.
Who painted the last leaf that never fell? ›That's Behrman's masterpiece. He painted it the night the last leaf fell.” 1.