OTD, 20 years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of the Eastern QF. Despite not allowing more than 2 goals all series, Patrick Lalime allowed Joe Nieuwendyk to score two soft goals in the first period. Final score was 4-1 for Toronto.
by RestartNick
@Toronto Maple Leafs
18 Comments
Man – I remember this. It was awesome. Could have caught it with a bare hand – lol.
Was it Eddie Belfour who recorded three shutouts that series, all 2-0 wins?
As a millenial this was my formative years of being a Leafs fan. I thought the Leafs would be making deep playoff runs all the time…. Ha…ha 🙁
Good series though still watch highlights to this day
Finishing the first round in mid-late April instead of starting it then? What a concept…
Loose legs Lalime
Let’s get some of that Joey Magic tonight!
The Legend of LaLame started that night. 🤣
Here’s Nieuwendyk again…scores again!
Were these the years the Leafs couldn’t beat Ottawa in the regular season?
And thanks largely to this one game Lalime tends to get unfairly scapegoated for all of Ottawa’s playoff troubles during that time. Dude had a .926 career playoff sv%.
Jesus Harry Neal with the commentary just ripping into Lalime, not holding anything back lol
Last time the Leafs had character. You had some faith and hope back then. Nothing since. I blame the lockout and Tom Anselmi.
I was there, in the ACC, and it was electric!!!
Oh man this game is one of my all time favourite Leafs memories. Fresh out of college and recently moved downtown from the sticks. Watched the series in a pool hall in Ottawa that I was a regular at. Myself and 3 other Leafs fans in a bar surrounded by friends who all cheer for the Sens. We got to be so smug for those final 2 periods.
Being a Leafs fan in Ottawa all those series were great fun but this one was just perfectly timed for me. Insert The Office quote about recognizing the good old days here.
Technically, Lalime only allowed one soft goal. He just allowed it twice.
The game 6 OT win is my first Leafs memory, back when I was too young to know the pain. Let’s make this year different!
Battle of Ontario was peak leafs hockey for most millennials. We knew as many Ottawa sens players by name as we did the leafs, it was a great stretch of hockey.
Leafs should bring back that goal song