1986-87 – Two Solitudes

Game 610 – Canadiens 9, Maple Leafs 4

March 21, 1987May 1, 2021 Master Of This Domain

Game 610
Canadiens 9, Maple Leafs 4
Saturday, March 21, 1987
Forum de Montréal, Montréal, Québec

Hunger is apparently not a problem that gnaws at the stomachs of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Defenceman Bill Root unintentionally touched on that note last night in praising the Montréal Canadiens, who blasted the Leafs 9-4 before 18,072 spectators at the Forum.
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Game 609 – Canadiens 2, Maple Leafs 1

January 12, 1987March 28, 2025 Master Of This Domain

Game 609
Canadiens 2, Maple Leafs 1
Monday, January 12, 1987
Forum de Montréal, Montréal, Québec

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had enough trouble this season winning games on the road.

So, as far as they were concerned, the last thing they needed was for the referee to side with the home team in a close contest.
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Game 608 – Maple Leafs 7, Canadiens 4

October 9, 1986January 19, 2022 Master Of This Domain

Game 608
Maple Leafs 7, Canadiens 4
Thursday, October 9, 1986
Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario

“I B’Leaf” said the button on the lapel of actor / comedian John Candy’s suit.

After two decades of unbelievable chaos, what the Toronto Maple Leafs need to do more than anything else is start believing in themselves.
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DECEMBER 13, 2025
Our condolences go out to the family, friends and fans of Bobby Rousseau, who passed away today at the age of 85. A veteran of fifteen NHL seasons, ten of them in Montréal, Rousseau would capture four Stanley Cups (1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969) and a Calder Trophy with his hometown Canadiens, notching 81 points in 111 career regular season games against Toronto, along with another 19 points in 28 playoff meetings between the rivals.

OCTOBER 14, 2025
After drawing in with a projected start for the Maple Leafs, Cayden Primeau has become the 113th player, and second active player (along with Max Domi) to have played with both the Maple Leafs and Canadiens. Primeau is just the tenth goalie to play for both clubs, the first goaltender to play for both since 2015, and the first to play for Toronto after Montréal since 1991.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
Our condolences go out to the family, friends and fans of Ken Dryden, who passed away today at the age of 78 from cancer. Despite a short career of just eight NHL seasons, Dryden amassed an astonishing record before hanging up his skates at just age 31, capturing six Stanley Cups (1971, 1973, 1976-79), five Vezina Trophies and five All-Star nods, including a staggering 22-2-9 record all-time against the Leafs, and a perfect 8-0 against Toronto in the playoffs, holding the record for Habs goaltenders for highest save percentage in the Two Solitudes rivalry. After his playing career Dryden embarked on a remarkable career in law, writing, broadcasting, education and government, including a post as President of the Maple Leafs from 1997-2003.