The 1941–42

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

season was the club's 25th season in the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

. The Maple Leafs came off a very solid season in 1940–41, finishing with their second highest point total in club history, as they had a 28–14–6 record, earning 62 points, which was two fewer than the 1934–35 team accumulated; however, they lost to the

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

in the semi-finals, extending their

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...

drought to nine seasons. That drought was broken, however, when the Maple Leafs defeated the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

in the

1942 Stanley Cup Finals The 1942 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the 1941–42 Toronto Maple Leafs season, Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1941–42 Detroit Red Wings season, Detroit Red Wings. After losing the first three games, the Maple Leafs won th ...

, coming back after losing the first three games to win the Stanley Cup in seven games. They were the first team to come back from an 0–3 deficit to win a playoff series 4–3, and although it has happened in several playoff series since then, this remains the only time it has happened in a championship round.

Off-season

Before Smythe left to take up training with his 30th Battery, he signed up three rookies to the Maple Leafs: Bob Goldham, Ernie Dickens and John McCreedy. Lorne Carr's contract was purchased from the

New York Americans The New York Americans, colloquially known as the Amerks, were a professional ice hockey team based in New York City from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the second to play ...

. The final addition to the team was Pete Langelle, who made the team after playing part-time in previous seasons.

Regular season

Toronto got off to a quick start, winning 14 of their first 19 games, battling with the

and

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

for top spot in the NHL. A 4–7–3 slump in their next 14 games saw Toronto fall behind the Bruins and Rangers, however, the Leafs followed up their slump by posting a 7–1–0 record in their next 8 games, before dropping 5 of final 7 games to end the season. Toronto finished the year with a record of 27–18–3, recording 57 points, and finishing in second place in the NHL, three points behind the first place New York Rangers. The Leafs offense was led by Syl Apps, who despite missing 10 games to injuries, finished tied for the club lead in points with 41. Gordie Drillon also finished with 41 points, and he scored a team best 23 goals, while Billy Taylor had a club high 26 assists. Sweeney Schriner managed to join Drillon in the 20 goal club, as he managed to get 20 goals and earned 36 points. Bucko McDonald led the Leafs blueline, recording 21 points, while Rudolph Kampman provided the team toughness, getting 67 penalty minutes. In goal, Turk Broda got all the action, winning 27 games and posting a 2.76 GAA, along with earning 6 shutouts. The Maple Leafs would open the playoffs against the best team in the league, the

in a best of seven semi-final series. The Leafs opened the series with a victory at

Maple Leaf Gardens Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church and Wellesley, Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an indoor arena to host ice hoc ...

with a solid 3–1 win, then managed to go up two games by defeating the Rangers 4–2 at

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

. New York managed to take the third game, shutting out Toronto 3–0, however, the Leafs would go up 3–1 in the series, winning the fourth game 2–1 at home. New York staved off elimination in the fifth game, holding off Toronto for a 3–1 win, however, the Leafs ended the series in the sixth game, hanging on for a 3–2 victory, and a spot in the

finals. Toronto's opponent in the

was the

, who finished the year with a weak 19–25–4 record, ending up in fifth in the league. Detroit defeated the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

and

to earn a spot in the finals. The Wings surprised Toronto in the series opener, winning the game 3–2, then Detroit managed to take the second game by a 4–2 score to go home with a 2–0 series lead. The Red Wings stayed hot, winning the third game at the

Detroit Olympia Detroit Olympia, also known as Olympia Stadium, was a multi-purpose arena in Detroit. Nicknamed "The Old Red Barn", it was best known as the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from its opening in 1927 to 1979. Hist ...

5–2, pushing the Leafs to the brink of elimination. Toronto responded in the fourth game, narrowly defeating Detroit 4–3 to cut the Wings series lead to 3–1. The Leafs returned home for the fifth game, and dominated Detroit, winning the game 9–3 and now were down 3–2 in the series. Turk Broda stole the show in the sixth game, shutting out Detroit 3–0 to even the series up, and the Leafs completed their miracle comeback with a 3–1 victory in the seventh and deciding game in front of a record breaking crowd of over 16,000 fans to win the

for the fourth time in club history, and first time since the 1931–32 season. This comeback was never repeated in a Stanley Cup finals since.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1 , , November 1 , ,

, , 4–3 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 0–1–0 , , 0 , - , 2 , , November 8 , ,

, , 0–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 1–1–0 , , 2 , - , 3 , , November 13 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 2–1–0 , , 4 , - , 4 , , November 15 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–1–0 , , 6 , - , 5 , , November 18 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 8–6 , ,

, , 4–1–0 , , 8 , - , 6 , , November 20 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–3 , ,

, , 5–1–0 , , 10 , - , 7 , , November 22 , ,

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, , 0–3 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 6–1–0 , , 12 , - , 8 , , November 23 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 2–3 , ,

, , 6–2–0 , , 12 , - , 9 , , November 29 , , Brooklyn Americans , , 2–8 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 7–2–0 , , 14 , - , 10 , , November 30 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 5–1 , , Brooklyn Americans , , 8–2–0 , , 16 , - , - , 11 , , December 2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 1–3 , ,

, , 8–3–0 , , 16 , - , 12 , , December 6 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 9–3–0 , , 18 , - , 13 , , December 11 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 1–2 , ,

, , 9–4–0 , , 18 , - , 14 , , December 13 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 10–4–0 , , 20 , - , 15 , , December 14 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–0 , ,

, , 11–4–0 , , 22 , - , 16 , , December 20 , ,

, , 2–0 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 11–5–0 , , 22 , - , 17 , , December 21 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–0 , ,

, , 12–5–0 , , 24 , - , 18 , , December 25 , ,

, , 0–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 13–5–0 , , 26 , - , 19 , , December 27 , ,

, , 3–5 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 14–5–0 , , 28 , - , 20 , , December 28 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 1–2 , , Brooklyn Americans , , 14–6–0 , , 28 , - , 21 , , December 30 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 1–4 , ,

, , 14–7–0 , , 28 , - , - , 22 , , January 1 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–3 , ,

, , 14–7–1 , , 29 , - , 23 , , January 3 , , Brooklyn Americans , , 2–4 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 15–7–1 , , 31 , - , 24 , , January 10 , ,

, , 6–4 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 15–8–1 , , 31 , - , 25 , , January 15 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–2 , ,

, , 16–8–1 , , 33 , - , 26 , , January 17 , ,

, , 4–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 16–9–1 , , 33 , - , 27 , , January 24 , , Brooklyn Americans , , 2–3 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 17–9–1 , , 35 , - , 28 , , January 25 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–6 , ,

, , 17–10–1 , , 35 , - , 29 , , January 27 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 0–0 , ,

, , 17–10–2 , , 36 , - , 30 , , January 29 , ,

, , 3–7 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 18–10–2 , , 38 , - , 31 , , January 31 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 18–11–2 , , 38 , - , - , 32 , , February 1 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 2–7 , ,

, , 18–12–2 , , 38 , - , 33 , , February 5 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–3 , ,

, , 18–12–3 , , 39 , - , 34 , , February 7 , ,

, , 4–6 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 19–12–3 , , 41 , - , 35 , , February 8 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–3 , , Brooklyn Americans , , 20–12–3 , , 43 , - , 36 , , February 12 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 6–4 , ,

, , 21–12–3 , , 45 , - , 37 , , February 14 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 22–12–3 , , 47 , - , 38 , , February 21 , , Brooklyn Americans , , 3–4 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 23–12–3 , , 49 , - , 39 , , February 22 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 0–3 , ,

, , 23–13–3 , , 49 , - , 40 , , February 28 , ,

, , 2–8 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 24–13–3 , , 51 , - , - , 41 , , March 1 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–3 , ,

, , 25–13–3 , , 53 , - , 42 , , March 3 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–5 , ,

, , 25–14–3 , , 53 , - , 43 , , March 5 , ,

, , 5–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 25–15–3 , , 53 , - , 44 , , March 7 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 26–15–3 , , 55 , - , 45 , , March 8 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 0–2 , ,

, , 26–16–3 , , 55 , - , 46 , , March 14 , ,

, , 4–6 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 27–16–3 , , 57 , - , 47 , , March 15 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–6 , , Brooklyn Americans , , 27–17–3 , , 57 , - , 48 , , March 19 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–7 , ,

, , 27–18–3 , , 57 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , March 21 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 1–0 , - , 2 , , March 22 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–2 , ,

, , 2–0 , - , 3 , , March 24 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 0–3 , ,

, , 2–1 , - , 4 , , March 28 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–1 , - , 5 , , March 29 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 1–3 , ,

, , 3–2 , - , 6 , , March 31 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–2 , - , - , 1 , , April 4 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 0–1 , - , 2 , , April 7 , ,

, , 4–2 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 0–2 , - , 3 , , April 9 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 2–5 , ,

, , 0–3 , - , 4 , , April 12 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–3 , ,

, , 1–3 , - , 5 , , April 14 , ,

, , 3–9 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 2–3 , - , 6 , , April 16 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–0 , ,

, , 3–3 , - , 7 , , April 18 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 4–3 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Playoffs

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Awards and records

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard ...

: Syl Apps * Syl Apps,

, Centre, NHL First Team All-Star * Turk Broda, Goaltender, NHL Second Team All-Star * Gordie Drillon, Right Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star * Bucko McDonald, Defence, NHL Second Team All-Star The 1941–42 Toronto Maple Leafs were inducted into the

Ontario Sports Hall of Fame The Ontario Sports Hall of Fame is an association dedicated to honouring athletes and personalities with outstanding achievement in sports in Ontario, Canada. The hall of fame was established in 1994 by Bruce Prentice, following his 15-year tenure ...

in 2003.

Transactions

* October 8, 1941: Acquired Viv Allen and Glenn Brydson from the Brooklyn Americans for Phil McAtee and return of Peanuts O'Flaherty from a loan * October 30, 1941: Traded Norman Mann to the

Pittsburgh Hornets The Pittsburgh Hornets were a minor-league professional men's ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Contrary to popular belief, the Pittsburgh Hornets did not evolve from the International Hockey League's Pittsburgh Shamrocks. The ...

of the AHL for cash * October 30, 1941: Acquired Lorne Carr from the Brooklyn Americans for the loan of Red Heron, loan of Gus Marker, loan of Nick Knott and cash * February 2, 1942: Traded Jack Church to the Brooklyn Americans for cash * March 6, 1942: Signed Free Agent Gaye Stewart

References

* * National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:1941-42 Toronto Maple Leafs Season Stanley Cup championship seasons Toronto Maple Leafs seasons

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Off-season

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

See also

References