1987-88 – Two Solitudes

Game 613 – Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 2

December 26, 1987March 28, 2025 Master Of This Domain

Game 613
Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 2
Saturday, December 26, 1987
Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario

It wouldn’t take a stranger more than five minutes of chatting with Maple Leafs coach John Brophy to realize his hatred of losing.
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Game 612 – Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 1

November 9, 1987April 30, 2021 Master Of This Domain

Game 612
Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 1
Monday, November 9, 1987
Forum de Montréal, Montréal, Québec

Imagine, if you can, Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard smiling after a loss.

Believe it, sports fans, it happened here last night after H.B.’s Leafs dropped a 3-1 decision to the Montréal Canadiens.
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Game 611 – Canadiens 10, Maple Leafs 3

October 22, 1987April 30, 2021 Master Of This Domain

Game 611
Canadiens 10, Maple Leafs 3
Wednesday, October 21, 1987
Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario

Defence is the Montréal Canadiens’ trademark now. Check, check, check. Grind, grind, grind.
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JANUARY 5, 2026
Our condolences go out to the family, friends and fans of Hockey Hall of Famer Bob Pulford, who passed away today at the age of 89. A player for sixteen NHL seasons, and then a coach and manager for another 34 seasons, Pulford was best known for his fourteen seasons in Toronto, where he would capture four Stanley Cups (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967) with the Maple Leafs, amassing 91 points in 173 career games against Montreal between 1956-70, also notching 21 points in 37 career playoff games against the Canadiens, tied for the most playoff games played alongside George Armstrong, Tim Horton and Frank Mahovlich.

DECEMBER 21, 2025
After drawing into the Canadiens starting lineup, Sammy Blais has become the 114th player, and second active player (along with Max Domi) to have played with both the Maple Leafs and Canadiens. Blais, who was waived by Montréal to start the season, then played eight games with Toronto before being reclaimed by the Canadiens after Toronto waived him, would become the first player to play for both clubs in the same season (but not as part of a trade) since Chad Kilger suited up for both teams non-consecutively in 2003-04.

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.