The Maple Leafs Stanley Cup!

Let’s face it…. our Stanley Cup is getting to the second round. We did it once in 19 years….so let’s celebrate the Maple Leafs Stanley Cup (MLSC)!!

A first round win!

It was so incredible watching our Toronto Maple Leafs win the 2023 MLSC against the defending champs 2022 MLSC winner…. who also happened to be the two time actual Stanley Cup winner: the Tampa Bay Lightening.

We beat the reigning champs……one of the best playoff teams ever assembled, with the top coach and goalie of the past decade. It was savory retribution for every one of us die hard Leaf fans for the loss of a hard fought 7-game series the year before.

This time we won in 6! And I’m going over old podcasts and video streams that aired around May 1 right after the win, to reminisce about the best moments fans of the Leafs have had in about 2 decades. For some of you….that’s the entire time you have been on this planet.

Below I’m posting some links to video summaries of the MLSC victory plus some key highlights as well as some podcasts post-victory….and other tidbits. Plus I’m posting some of my favorite memories:

1. Samsonov was incredible…. listen to the podcasts… many are calling him the MVP of the series. He went up against the best goalie in the NHL and crushed it.

2. Knies also crushed it and blew all expectations! See the second video below with the amazing goal line save!

3. I went to 2 games, and the first person I ran into at one of the games is that super fan that was screaming into the phone down in Tampa….we hugged and got a selfie together. Check out the third video with the dude that says it all about our collective Leaf history.

4. I love Morgan Rielly. He is the epitome of a hockey leader. The hero scores the winning overtime goal with a bloody rag hanging from his broken nose. Savage! If this doesn’t inspire Leaf fans and hockey fans from all teams… I don’t know what will. Check out the last video.

5. Matthews game 4 was more monumental in my opinion than his first game in the NHL where he scored 4 goals…..because Game 4 is the first time I can say in the playoffs he decided he was going to carry the team on his back and lead them to victory. Fuck that was sweet. I have to admit I gave up by the start of the third period for that game and was about to turn off the TV…. lucky I didn’t because it was one of the greatest moments in MLSC history!

6. Schenn Bunting and Acciari….we hardly knew yee. But without you lads…. there would be no 2023 MLSC victory.

I could go on an on with the positive accolades…. but I want everyone here to post your best links about the 2023 MLSC and also your best memories. Because that two week period in late April was the pinnacle of being a Leaf fan in 20 years…. so we might as well celebrate it!