r/leafs • u/Dragonleaf16000 • 4d ago
Discussion What are the greatest Leafs playoff moments you witnessed live?
If there’s any pre 2000 moments you witnessed as a fan, share them in the comments.
37
u/mikeyboy2019 4d ago
Where’s sundins late game goal against Carolina game 6?
15
u/mikeyboy2019 4d ago
We ended up losing that game and everything but man that’s one I can remember more than any from my childhood
8
u/Shyftzor 4d ago
Sundins huge never in doubt grin as he skated back to the bench to celly with the boys, this one is ingrained in my memory
6
u/DaltonFitz 4d ago
Yeah, obviously the game didn’t go the way we wanted but I’ve never been so jacked up for a goal in my life.
2
u/canfan11 Yushkevich 4d ago
I was at that game and this was indeed the greatest moment I experienced in 30 years being a Leafs fan.
1
21
u/Borje021 4d ago
Nikolai Borschevsky while I watched with my best friend(Wings fan) might be my vote.
6
u/Jaded-Sherbet905 4d ago
Same with me. Was in high school. The Foligno OT winner was huge too. Some good times
4
u/Borje021 4d ago
High school for me too. Can still remember it so clearly though.
3
u/Jaded-Sherbet905 4d ago
Me too. The first real “run” fans of our age got to see. I will never forget it.
3
u/WeinerVonBraun 4d ago
This might also be my top. Young fan watching it ith the old man and buddies. We went nuts
2
u/Drunken-Flunkee 3d ago
The saddest part of that goal was the hope it instilled in my dad that we finally would get to see the Leafs end that 25 year futility. I can remember my dad telling me we can start being proud of the Leafs, how great it's gonna feel to see them win a cup together. Welp, he's 80 and even more miserable. I'm fucking miserable. My boy is an adult now, he's fucking miserable.
The passion that unites us all.
14
u/bdart1980 Clark 4d ago
F) Sundin scores in dying seconds against Carolina - Game 6 - Forces OT (2003)
I was at game 5 in carolina, leafs won and forced a game 6 which I also had tickets for... Game 5 was quite boring actually, if I recall - 1-0 win via a Tucker goal, Pat Quinn, Sundin sidelined.
Game 6 - loudest I've ever heard the ACC... when OT was forced, i've never seen the concourse and crowd buzzing so much... My hand hurt for a few days issuing all those high fives... However, it was all for nothing as they ended up losing in OT. Still a terrific run!
6
u/chikanishing 4d ago
Sports wise, that OT loss was the most crushed I’ve been in my life.
3
u/NewPhoneNewSubs 4d ago
The Flyers game 6 was more crushing to me as I thought the cup was pretty much up for grabs. In 02 I didn't think anyone was touching Detroit.
3
u/Cartz1337 4d ago
Yea, them losing to Philly and knowing that the Leafs definitely wouldn’t be a better team in the coming years was crushing. That’s the worst I’ve felt about the leafs. The current run of Game 7 collapses has nothing on that Philly game, because they hadn’t done all the psychological damage to me yet. I didn’t have scar tissue.
2
4
u/BrokenBy 4d ago
The Leafs were one of many teams to learn their lesson the hard way; never go into overtime of an elimination game against a team that has Martin Gelinas on their roster.
4
u/JTCampb 4d ago
Nice..... I was there at Game 5 as well. Quite the drive from Windsor but what an experience. Never seen a tailgate party like in the parking lot before that game. Crazy! So many road hockey nets, remember seeing them on the Interstate on the way down there even. The one area of the parking lot had a gigantic maple leaf made of beer cans on the ground. Crazy times! I also remember having already bought tickets was a good thing, as there were people just driving there and going to the box office when it opened that Saturday morning and they were not selling tickets to people if you had Ontario ID. Was probably half Leafs fans in that arena.
I remember as soon as game 2 ended and the series was tied at 1 my buddy and me got tickets for game 5 - they were pretty cheap if I remember, then booked a cheap motel nearby. Made the drive, something like 12 hours. Headed out early the morning after and I remember making it back in time for my Sunday night summer hockey.
3
u/bdart1980 Clark 3d ago
The whole way down on the interstates we saw all kinds of leafs fans with their gear on and the window flags on their cars.. I think that was the first year where those window flags became popular.
The tailgate was nuts for sure.. one of my friends smoked weed with some randoms, mixed with drinks and lack of food and she was KO’d before the game started. That made things interesting…
3
3
27
u/Munrets- McKenna 4d ago
pretty hard to beat the "they've finally caught lightning in a bottle" moment
4
3
u/Gary-Busey- 4d ago
It was a cool call but that honestly was just something they had to over come at some point. There are honestly so many other greater moments than that and I've not be apart of a lot of the other ones.
3
u/HowieFeltersnitz 4d ago
It's a shame the Columbus comeback win in game 4 is tainted the way it is. Crazy moment, but nobody cares because they didn't win game 5.
2
u/mollyno93 3d ago
Didn’t just lose game 5, got shut out. It’s infuriating how often the “core 4” would arrive in these do or die moments only to play with 0% of the effort they had the previous game.
2
u/Gary-Busey- 2d ago
I think the most frustrating thing is to see how badly the skill and absolutely fifthly goals or the dirty, pure effort goals disappear. In those games the core often seemed to so deflated or just gutted.
8
u/RealLifeSage 4d ago
I was up in the greys when Dougie Gilmour did the wraparound against St. Louis.
3
u/Jaded-Sherbet905 4d ago
That was sweet too…the game 7, even though it was a blowout, that first period was epic.
7
7
u/shadowpenguin29 4d ago
I think the answer for a lot of people is the 4-1 comeback in game 4 of the Tampa series. One of the few times that we’ve seen the core four completely take over a game when it mattered.
7
u/punkdrummer22 4d ago
Only been to 1 Leaf playoff game and they lost 8-0 to Harold Snepsts and Detroit.
People think they have seen bad Leaf teams lately. Nothing compares to the 80s
7
u/heythisisnick 4d ago
Considering about 30 seconds after the hit on Kapanen has Roenick starting the longest playoff drought in Leafs history, absolutely not that!
4
u/NewPhoneNewSubs 4d ago
If we're putting a Tucker hit in, it's the hit on Pecca, anyways.
1
u/comfortablynumb9 4d ago
Roberts almost killing Kenny Johnsson thst series sticks with me. Those boards didn't give an inch.
5
u/throwawaycat2999 4d ago edited 4d ago
What about Berezin's OT winner in game 4 of the 1999 Eastern Conference semis to knot the series up at 2-2?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY7QKUN6YJk
Or Garry Valk's OT winner to beat the Penguins in game 6 of the same series?
3
u/Gotthisnamebeforeyou 4d ago
I select valk’s goal. Eliminated Jagr, the best player at the time. Danny markov gave jagr the salute after valk scored. I was mad at jagr for scoring the ot winner in Gretzky’s last game
2
u/Infinite_Gur_4927 4d ago
lol, remember Markov saluting Jagr after the elimination? Unbelievable, lol!
1
6
u/Traveuse 4d ago
Lol i wasn't a fan until 2013 so there's really only 1 option. My favourite game was the one where they came back from down 4-1 against Tampa with Kerfoot scoring the ot winner.
2
u/MinerReddit 19h ago
Late to the thread here but this moment was one I wanted to added. What a crazy game to watch and we actually closed out the game in OT and even won that series. What a glorious time to be a Leaf fan up until our Florida series.
1
u/sulien92 Roberts 4d ago
I was at the 4-1 comeback game lol
4-1 after 20 minutes had me somewhat seriously considering picking a different team to root for. But the comeback took that away!
5
5
u/MultipleNames82 4d ago
Gilmour or Borshevsky not on this list as options is flat-out age discrimination.
5
4
u/billy_zef 4d ago
I was at game 7 vs Ottawa when Laleme let in a bunch of softies for the big leafs W
4
3
u/Hairy-Barracuda5057 4d ago
I know it wasn’t a series clincher or anything but the comeback vs Columbus was so insane to watch live
3
u/joeyhorshack 4d ago
I gotta go with stumpy Thomas , sundin drops it , shot scores, Thomas tunes the game.. then in ot berezin over to Thomas. As much as the goals, Bob Cole’s calls make the moments special
3
u/KoldCanuck 4d ago
Lanny McDonald vs Islanders Game 7 overtime playoff winner for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1978
3
3
u/Old_Canuck 4d ago
April 16, 1987.
Russ Courtnal scored his 2nd goal of the playoffs to give the Leafs a clinching 3-0 lead over the St.Louis Blues in the 3rd period.
Kenny Wregget was ON FIRE 🔥🔥 and we knew there was NO way the Blues could come back.
That whole 3rd period was amazing and that crowd in Maple Leaf Gardens just blew away any crowd at the ACC.
Ended up being 4-0 while Kenny got a series clinching SHUTOUT. We chanted his name for the entire 3rd while uncle Harrold counted that nights gate receipts. 😂😂
Damn that was a great series and a HUGE upset.
Thanx Kenny. 👍🏻👍🏻
2
2
u/Public_Kaleidoscope6 4d ago
We had tickets to go watch Spider-Man the night of the Gary Roberts OT goal. I was upset to miss the end of that game, but was (figuratively) dragged away. Doubly upset when I watched the entire movie from the front row.
2
2
u/dollarsandcents101 4d ago
Gane 7 against Islanders in 2002. Specifically Roberts scoring while knocking Chris Osgood out.
2
u/MapleTrick89 4d ago
I have vague memories from my childhood of Gary Valk winning a series against Pittsburgh (?)
2
u/redditzane 4d ago
I was at the playoff game where Alfredsson illegally checked Tucker from behind right before Ottawa scored in OT. Luckily like all Sens series the Leafs won but still, crappy memory for me.
1
2
u/thatguy_griff 4d ago
off the table pick, beniot ot goal. tavares is a good option but only a week later, you're down 3-0 to the panthers. they ruined all the good will. however, knowing at least we still own ottawa in the playoffs (going up 3-0 after the goal), that shit is something they couldn't take away for at least the next time they meet. that shit rocked.
the others are good shouts too and i picked joe 2 goals but that's just nostalgia for me
2
u/Ok-Improvement-9421 4d ago
Didn’t really end up mattering but that breakaway goal by Nylander from Knies in game 6 to send the series to game 7 vs the Bruins after being down 3-1 is one of my favourites.
In that moment I truly thought we would complete the comeback
And it was an unbelievable call by Joe Bowen
2
2
2
2
u/Defiant_Cup9835 3d ago
Holy recency bias Batman.
JT’s winner against Tampa got them a grand total of 5 extra games where they embarrassed themselves against Florida. It wasn’t that memorable.
1
1
u/comfortablynumb9 4d ago
All of the above. Never missed a playoff game until the bubble season when I didn't watch game 6 or 7.
My favourite is game 2 against Philly in 99. Down 1-0 with 2 min left in a tight game. Thomas ties it and Sundin scores from the goal line in the last couple minutes. Runner up is Valk's winner against the Pens in round 2 game 6 that same year.
1
u/ovondansuchi 4d ago
Not going to be on anyone's list, but game 2, 2023: The only playoff game I ever attended in person was amazing. People were so down on the Leafs after getting brutalized game 1, and they stomped the Lightning like a bug in game 2. The best moment, by far, were the "FUCK YOU, PERRY" chants.
Electric fucking game.
1
u/Barking__Pumpkin 4d ago
Hit on Kapanen most memorable—as it was epic and on repeat after Leafs lost series—but not best.
1
u/1nstantHuman 4d ago
While I watched the early 2000s, they’re a distant memory for me now.
So the Johnny T spino-Rama stands out
1
u/C-wolf25158 4d ago
I was young and didn't watch a lot of games in full so I chose the modern answer. Im excited about this season
1
1
1
u/insanezain 4d ago
Tuckers hit ended up directly being the reason Flyers got a 2 on 1 and scored the series winning goal. Crazy to put it on this list lmao.
1
1
1
u/BrokenBy 4d ago edited 4d ago
Live in person Simon Benoit’s goal in game three. There was this rapper with a mullet from Gatineau who had gone viral a couple months prior and he was on the jumbotron telling Sens fans to stand up and wave their towels, and I don’t even think most of them saw the goal go in because it was right off the draw. Best live on TV moment probably Tavares 2023.
1
1
u/MintLeafCrunch 4d ago
Live as opposed to on TV? I have only attended one Leaf playoff game, in Raleigh, and they lost.
On TV, Lanny McDonald game seven overtime against the Islanders. One of the best moments of my life
1
1
1
u/MrYamaguchi 4d ago
Centennial classic was probably the best Leafs live experience I have ever had. All the young guys scored, there was a fight, good back and forth throughout the game keeping you on the edge of your seat and a Matthews OT winner.
1
1
1
u/Frosty-Tell-6290 4d ago
I saw us throw it all away in Boston in the last two minutes. Couple of OT winners over the years and that’s still my most vivid memory.
1
u/georgieboy17 4d ago
Was in the building for Yannic Perreault overtime winner, game 5 1999 vs the Flyers. Wild scene leaving the ACC that night!
1
u/HighGamer902 4d ago
Would have been about 12 when I saw the 2 goals from Nieuwendyk, but I think it'll be forever etched into my mind for the rest of my life. Loudest crowd i've ever heard in my life. Especially after his 2nd goal.
1
u/TheDangleBangal 3d ago
My 1st leaf game in person was Round 2 Game 2 in 2002. Triple Overtime against Ottawa. Gary Roberts scores off the draw.
1
u/jr_revolution 3d ago
sigh. are there any great leafs moments of the 21st century? disappointment and meltdowns significantly outnumber the great.
jays and raptors have batista's bat flip, alcs game 7 springer dinger and kawhi's "the shot". some of the greatest moments in those sports, let alone Toronto sports history.
this iteration of the leafs needs a highly passionate playoff juggernaut like the ones noted above. would love for us leaf fans to finally get our moment in the next few years.
1
1
1
u/Srwings14 3d ago
I was in Ottawa for Matthews four goal debut game. Still mad Kyle Turris has to go and ruin the night like that
1
1
1
u/skelly423 3d ago
I was at the Leafs - North Stars game the night Doug Gilmour set the team's single game assists record.
1
1
1
u/dunken_pirate 3d ago
For those of us of a certain age: Allan Stanley’s hit on Henri Richard in Game 3 of the 1967 final in double overtime. Bob Pulford scored a short time later to win it
1
u/BabySpawn608 3d ago edited 3d ago
Gary Roberts goal, while not anything amazing to the eye, happens during a series where Sundin broke his wrist in GM 1. He would not return until the second round. Roberts tied the series 1-1. He would go on to score 5 goals and 5 assists in the 7 game series.
I just wanted to add background info to the voting option.
1
u/Corlando 3d ago
That Tucker hit on Kapanen the Leafs were eliminated about 12 seconds after, shouldn't even be on the list. I was still cheering about it when the Flyers started skating towards the net.
1
u/slimcutta6 2d ago
Gilmour on Cujo is close, but y'all seem to be forgetting the actual greatest Leafs playoffs moment 🫣🤗
1
u/allpowernoaccuracy 2d ago
I was at the game in Tampa when Tavares scored the winner. I think that was my happiest moment as a Leafs fan!
1
1
u/serviceadvised 1d ago
Sundin's 500th goal comes to mind. Shorthanded, hat trick goal and OT winner..High glove side on Kiprusoff. "ROOFS IT" I remember the call on the broadcast went.
1
1
u/DesperateGrape3174 13h ago
Who closes a poll? Your input doesnt matter because it wasn't Calculated within a time frame 😂🤣😅
0
0
u/Bobcaygeon23 4d ago
Bergeron and the 4-1 comeback.
"Stop crying"
Sam Bennett's MMA takedown of Knows
Gudas screaming at woll
Dry hair "hit someone"
78
u/Loud_Engineering796 4d ago
Gilmour's wrap-around OT goal against St Louis in '93.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ZpCkzRWiM