LET THE NEW YEAR'S BALLOONS DROP!

When the St. Louis Blues made their first regular season trip to Maple Leaf Gardens on December 30, 1967, the Toronto Maple Leafs held the title of Stanley Cup champions.

And as expected, the expansion team had a difficult time defending against the Leafs.

The Leafs wasted little time taking control of the game. Mike Walton opened the floodgates when he scored at the 1:36 mark, and added second goal at 2:21. Toronto's scoring onslaught continued in the second period when George Armstrong scored in the opening minute. His marker was followed by two tallies from Frank Mahovlich. Holding a hot stick, the "Big M" completed the hat trick early in the final frame. At the 15:22 mark, Ron Ellis gave the Leafs an 8-0 lead. Johnny Bower's bid for a shutout was spoiled when Red Berenson scored for the Blues.

After the game, balloons fell from the rafters at the Gardens to celebrate the victory and ring in the New Year of 1968. But the balloons burst on the Leafs when they fell 4-0 in a New Year's Eve contest at Madison Square Garden. After producing 8 goals against Seth Martin and Don Caley in the St. Louis Blues' net, they were unable to get a puck past Eddie Giacomin in the Rangers' goal.

Now in 2019-20, the St. Louis Blues are the present Cup holders. As for the Leafs, of the current NHL teams they hold the record for going the longest period (52 hockey seasons) without winning the Cup. How times have changed.