BACK IN THE SPRING OF '59

Toronto Maple Leafs, who consider accomplishing miracles as part of a day's work, catapulted their way into the Stanley Cup final here tonight with a dramatic 3-2 win over the crippled Boston Bruins.
-The opening paragraph in Rex MacLeod's game story on game 7 in 1959.

It was in the spring of 1959 that the Toronto Maple Leafs last won a playoff series against the Boston Bruins. Currently, the two are embroiled in the opening round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The semi-finals in '59 went the distance with game 7 taking place April 7, 1959, at Boston Garden. The Bruins extended the series when they defeated the Leafs 5-4 in game 6 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

After forty-minutes of play in the deciding contest, Boston held a narrow 2-1 lead over the visitors. Their second tally was scored by Leo Boivin. The Bruins defenceman went full steam up the ice and beat Toronto goalie Johnny Bower for an unassisted goal.

In the third period, the Leafs took over the game. Writing in the Globe and Mail, Rex MacLeod described the two goals that gave Toronto a come-from-behind, series-winning victory. The equalizer was scored by Bob Pulford at the 8:36 mark.

Bobby Pulford, an outstanding, hurtling rusher for the Leafs in this game, tied the score at 8:36 of the third period when he barged down the centre and fired at Bruins' gallant goalkeeper, Harry Lumley, from the Boston blueline.
Lumley stretched forward to stop the shot but Pulford streaked in and knocked the puck out of his grasp and into the net.

Leafs' forward, Gerry Ehman, continued his hot-hand by scoring his sixth goal of the series at the 17:27 mark of the final frame.

Then came a series of agonizing close calls at each end until Ehman caressed a rolling puck which Frank Mahovlich had dealt him and drilled it into the far side how the net from about 25 feet out on the right wing. Mahovlich, who specialized in some amazing rushes that did not pay off earlier, took care of the Boston defence of Fernie Flaman and Jim Morrison, so that Ehman could concentrate on his shooting chores.

 The game 7 triumph enabled the Leafs to advance to the Stanley Cup final against Montreal. The Canadiens were gunning for their fourth straight championship and had no difficulty retaining the Cup with a 5-3 win in game 5 on home ice. The lone Maple Leaf victory was in game 3 at the Gardens on April 14, 1959. Dick Duff's overtime goal on Jacques Plante gave Toronto a 3-2 win.

Although the Leafs couldn't pull off an upset against the Habs, they benefitted greatly from the experience. Since Bill Barilko's overtime, Cup-winning goal in the 1951 final, Toronto hadn't made a Cup final appearance until eliminating Boston in 1959. Between 1951 and 1959, the Leafs failed to make the playoffs twice and were bounced in the semi-finals four-times by Detroit.

With "Punch" Imlach, hired in the summer of 1958, making the hockey decisions for the organization, there was a renewed optimism that the Leafs were heading in the right direction. The nucleus for future success was in-place. Toronto's roster included goalie Johnny Bower and a solid defence that included Baun, Horton, Stanley and Brewer. Up front, there was Harris, Mahovlich, Pulford, Stewart, Armstrong and Duff. Waiting in the wings was one of the greatest Leafs of all-time, Dave Keon. Veteran "Red" Kelly would be acquired in a 1960 trade and make the switch from defence to forward. Also, Imlach assembled a supporting cast that made important contributions.

The accomplishments in the '59 playoffs were the first steps to regaining their winning ways and having success in the playoffs. Everyone had a role and Imlach drove them to meet his expectations. There was no room for passengers on the Imlach express.

Another important factor was having Bert Olmstead in Toronto. He was acquired on June 4, 1958, at the Intra-League draft. Olmstead won four Cups with Montreal and this made him attractive to Imlach as leader for his young team in Toronto. Olmstead established himself in this role and as the photo below shows, he didn't hesitate to stand at the chalkboard and formulate plays for his teammates.

The next year, 1960, the Leafs once again faced the Canadiens in the final, but were swept by their rival. In 1961, Toronto was ousted by the Detroit Red Wings in the semi-finals. Everything came into place for the Leafs when they captured the first of their four Cup wins in 1962 at Chicago Stadium on April 22.

 And for many, the climb back to respectability and Stanley Cup parades began in the 1959 playoffs.