THE LEAFS MAKE THEIR PLAYOFF DEBUT IN 1929

When the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled-off their first victory of the 2017 playoffs over Washington on Saturday, their offensive attack was led by Kasperi Kapanen. His two goals, including the winner in double-overtime, helped the Blue & White down the Caps 4-3.

Looking back in Toronto Maple Leafs history (post Toronto St. Patricks), success didn't come quickly in hockey's second season. After being purchased by Conn Smythe and his associates in February 1927, they failed to qualify for the playoffs and in 1927-28, fell short of playing in the post-season.

But that all changed the following year when the Leafs made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs. On March 19, 1929, the Toronto Maple Leafs opened their quarter-final series in Detroit against the Cougars. The Leafs maiden voyage into the playoffs resulted in a 3-1 win.

Like Kapanen, a two-goal performance by Andy Blair made him the star the game. "To Andy Blair must go the honour of being the most effective player on the ice," wrote Bob Hayes in the Toronto Daily Star.

Blair set the tone for the Leafs when he scored at 1:34 of the first period. "He got the first one just after the opening of the game when he sent in a backhand shot after he had got a pass from (Ace) Bailey," noted Hayes.

He rounded out the scoring at 19:32 of the final frame. "His second one came just before the close of the game when he took the puck right around the Detroit net and poked the puck past (Dolly) Dolson into the corner of the net," observed the Toronto scribe.

The other Leaf goal was scored late in period one by Art Smith. The only Cougars marker came off of George Hay's stick late in the final period. Hay beat Leaf goalie Lorne Chabot on "a fairly long shot that picked off the corner of the net."

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Andy Blair made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in '28-'29. He played center and in his rookie campaign netted 12 goals and added 15 assists for 27 points in 44 contests. The Leafs finished in third-place in the Canadian Division and faced Detroit in the opening round. The Cougars were part of the American Division. On the strength of outscoring the Cougars 7-2 in the two-game total goals series, the Leafs advanced to play the New York Rangers in the semi-finals. Toronto's playoff run came to an end when they were swept by the Rangers in the best-of-three showdown.

In the playoffs against Detroit and New York, Blair topped Toronto's scoring with 3 goals in 4 games. His crowning moment in playoff competition came in 1931-32 when the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup on April 9, 1932, against New York.