1941–42 Toronto Maple Leafs season
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The 1941–42 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the club's 25th season in the
NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
. The Maple Leafs came off a very solid season in 1940–41, finishing with their second highest point total in club history, as they had a 28–14–6 record, earning 62 points, which was two fewer than the 1934–35 team accumulated; however, they lost to the Boston Bruins in the semi-finals, extending their
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
drought to nine seasons. That drought was broken, however, when the Maple Leafs defeated the
Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
in the
1942 Stanley Cup Finals The 1942 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. After losing the first three games, the Maple Leafs won the next four to win the series 4–3, winning their fourth Stanley Cup. It ...
, coming back after losing the first three games to win the Stanley Cup in seven games. They were the first team to come back from an 0–3 deficit to win a playoff series 4–3, and although it has happened in several playoff series since then, this remains the only time it has happened in a championship round.


Off-season

Before Smythe left to take up training with his 30th Battery, he signed up three rookies to the Maple Leafs:
Bob Goldham Robert John "Golden Boy" Goldham (May 12, 1922 – September 6, 1991) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman and broadcaster. He played two seasons for the Toronto Marlboros earning the name "Golden Boy". He was later called the "Second Goalie" be ...
,
Ernie Dickens Ernest Leslie Dickens (June 25, 1921 – September 27, 1985) was a Canadian two-sport athlete from Manitoba. He played soccer for Winnipeg United Weston and then enjoyed a career as an ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL) , pl ...
and
John McCreedy Johnny McCreedy (March 23, 1911 – December 7, 1979) was a Canadian ice hockey player who played 64 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of two Stanley Cup-winning teams, in 1942 and 1945. ...
. Lorne Carr's contract was purchased from the New York Americans. The final addition to the team was
Pete Langelle Peter Landiak (November 4, 1917 – November 29, 2010), better known as Pete Langelle, was a professional ice hockey centre who played 137 games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Awards ...
, who made the team after playing part-time in previous seasons.


Regular season

Toronto got off to a quick start, winning 14 of their first 19 games, battling with the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers for top spot in the NHL. A 4–7–3 slump in their next 14 games saw Toronto fall behind the Bruins and Rangers, however, the Leafs followed up their slump by posting a 7–1–0 record in their next 8 games, before dropping 5 of final 7 games to end the season. Toronto finished the year with a record of 27–18–3, recording 57 points, and finishing in second place in the NHL, three points behind the first place New York Rangers. The Leafs offense was led by Syl Apps, who despite missing 10 games to injuries, finished tied for the club lead in points with 41.
Gordie Drillon Gordon Arthur Drillon (October 23, 1913 – September 23, 1986) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. From 1936 through to 1942 he was part of one of the NHL's most prolific scoring lines as a member o ...
also finished with 41 points, and he scored a team best 23 goals, while Billy Taylor had a club high 26 assists. Sweeney Schriner managed to join Drillon in the 20 goal club, as he managed to get 20 goals and earned 36 points.
Bucko McDonald Wilfred Kennedy "Bucko" McDonald (October 31, 1911 – July 19, 1991) was a Canadian professional hockey and lacrosse player, coach, and politician. Born in Fergus, Ontario, he played for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York ...
led the Leafs blueline, recording 21 points, while
Rudolph Kampman Rudolph Philip "Bingo" Kampman (March 12, 1914 – December 22, 1987) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs between 1937 and 1942. He was born in Berlin, Ontario. Career statis ...
provided the team toughness, getting 67 penalty minutes. In goal,
Turk Broda Walter Edward "Turk" Broda (May 15, 1914 — October 17, 1972) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. A goaltender, Broda played his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1935 and 19 ...
got all the action, winning 27 games and posting a 2.76 GAA, along with earning 6 shutouts. The Maple Leafs would open the playoffs against the best team in the league, the New York Rangers in a best of seven semi-final series. The Leafs opened the series with a victory at Maple Leaf Gardens with a solid 3–1 win, then managed to go up two games by defeating the Rangers 4–2 at
Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
. New York managed to take the third game, shutting out Toronto 3–0, however, the Leafs would go up 3–1 in the series, winning the fourth game 2–1 at home. New York staved off elimination in the fifth game, holding off Toronto for a 3–1 win, however, the Leafs ended the series in the sixth game, hanging on for a 3–2 victory, and a spot in the
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
finals. Toronto's opponent in the
1942 Stanley Cup Finals The 1942 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. After losing the first three games, the Maple Leafs won the next four to win the series 4–3, winning their fourth Stanley Cup. It ...
was the
Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
, who finished the year with a weak 19–25–4 record, ending up in fifth in the league. Detroit defeated the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins to earn a spot in the finals. The Wings surprised Toronto in the series opener, winning the game 3–2, then Detroit managed to take the second game by a 4–2 score to go home with a 2–0 series lead. The Red Wings stayed hot, winning the third game at the
Detroit Olympia Detroit Olympia, also known as Olympia Stadium, was a multi-purpose arena in Detroit. Nicknamed "The Old Red Barn", it was best known as the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from its opening in 1927 to 1979. Histo ...
5–2, pushing the Leafs to the brink of elimination. Toronto responded in the fourth game, narrowly defeating Detroit 4–3 to cut the Wings series lead to 3–1. The Leafs returned home for the fifth game, and dominated Detroit, winning the game 9–3 and now were down 3–2 in the series.
Turk Broda Walter Edward "Turk" Broda (May 15, 1914 — October 17, 1972) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. A goaltender, Broda played his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1935 and 19 ...
stole the show in the sixth game, shutting out Detroit 3–0 to even the series up, and the Leafs completed their miracle comeback with a 3–1 victory in the seventh and deciding game in front of a record breaking crowd of over 16,000 fans to win the
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
for the fourth time in club history, and first time since the 1931–32 season. This comeback was never repeated in a Stanley Cup finals since.


Final standings


Record vs. opponents


Schedule and results


Playoffs


Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New York Rangers 2


Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Detroit Red Wings 3


Player statistics


Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending


Playoffs

;Scoring ;Goaltending


Awards and records

*
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of ...
: Syl Apps * Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs, Centre, NHL First Team All-Star *
Turk Broda Walter Edward "Turk" Broda (May 15, 1914 — October 17, 1972) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. A goaltender, Broda played his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1935 and 19 ...
, Goaltender, NHL Second Team All-Star *
Gordie Drillon Gordon Arthur Drillon (October 23, 1913 – September 23, 1986) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. From 1936 through to 1942 he was part of one of the NHL's most prolific scoring lines as a member o ...
, Right Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star *
Bucko McDonald Wilfred Kennedy "Bucko" McDonald (October 31, 1911 – July 19, 1991) was a Canadian professional hockey and lacrosse player, coach, and politician. Born in Fergus, Ontario, he played for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York ...
, Defence, NHL Second Team All-Star The 1941–42 Toronto Maple Leafs were inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.


Transactions

* October 8, 1941: Acquired Viv Allen and
Glenn Brydson Glenn Warren "Swampy" Brydson (November 7, 1910 — December 9, 1993) was a Canadian ice hockey right winger who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Maroons, St. Louis Eagles, New York Rangers and Chicago Bla ...
from the Brooklyn Americans for Phil McAtee and return of
Peanuts O'Flaherty John Benedict "Peanuts" O'Flaherty (April 10, 1918 — July 16, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 21 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Americans and Brooklyn Americans. He was born in Toronto, Ont ...
from a loan * October 30, 1941: Traded
Norman Mann Norman Thomas Mann (March 3, 1914 — February 9, 1994) was an English-born Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 31 games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs between 1936 and 1941. The rest of his career, whic ...
to the
Pittsburgh Hornets The Pittsburgh Hornets were a minor-league professional men's ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Contrary to popular belief, the Pittsburgh Hornets did not evolve from the International Hockey League's Pittsburgh Shamrocks. The ...
of the AHL for cash * October 30, 1941: Acquired Lorne Carr from the Brooklyn Americans for the loan of Red Heron, loan of
Gus Marker Augustus Solberg Marker (August 1, 1905 – October 7, 1997) was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who had played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Maroons, Toronto Maple Leafs and B ...
, loan of
Nick Knott William Nickolas Earl Knott (July 23, 1920 – April 12, 1987) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 19 games in the National Hockey League for the Brooklyn Americans during the 1941–42 season. He also played several seasons ...
and cash * February 2, 1942: Traded
Jack Church John Herbert Church (May 24, 1915 – January 5, 1996) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played 130 games in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and Brooklyn Americans between 1938 and 1946. He was b ...
to the Brooklyn Americans for cash * March 6, 1942: Signed Free Agent
Gaye Stewart James Gaye Stewart (June 28, 1923 – November 18, 2010) was a professional ice hockey forward. He played nine seasons as a left winger in the National Hockey League. Playing career Born in Fort William, Ontario, Stewart was called from the minor ...


See also

*
1941–42 NHL season The 1941–42 NHL season was the 25th season of the National Hockey League. Seven teams played 48 games each. The Toronto Maple Leafs would win the Stanley Cup defeating the Detroit Red Wings winning four straight after losing the first three in ...


References

* * National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:1941-42 Toronto Maple Leafs Season Stanley Cup championship seasons Toronto Maple Leafs seasons Toronto Toronto