A CASE OF DEJA VU

Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs run for a Stanley Cup ended when they fell 2-1 to the Washington Capitals in overtime at the Air Canada Centre. Washington's Marcus Johanson ended the Leafs attempt to force a game seven when he beat Frederik Andersen at 6:31 of the extra-frame.

In a case of deja vu, the 1928-29 edition of the Leafs also saw their quest to advance halted in overtime by a 2-1 score. The game was played at Arena Gardens in Toronto on March 26, 1929. It was the second game in the best-of-three semi-final series between the Leafs and New York Rangers. Game one was held on March 24 at Madison Square Garden and the Rangers shutout the Leafs 1-0.

The 1929 post-season marked the Toronto Maple Leafs first appearance in the playoffs since Conn Smythe purchased the St. Patrick's and renamed them the Maple Leafs in February 1927. The Leafs won their opening round in '29 by outscoring the Detroit Cougars 7-2 in a two-game total goals showdown.

 Frank Boucher (pictured above) was the overtime scoring hero for New York in game two at Toronto. The game-winning goal came with the Leafs being shorthanded and the Rangers buzzing around Lorne Chabot, who was in goal for Toronto. "Chabot saved on one occasion by falling on the rubber, but finally during a scramble the puck was shoved into the cage," wrote Bert Perry in The Globe and Mail. "The goal counted and it won the game."