1996-97 – Two Solitudes

Game 633 – Maple Leafs 5, Canadiens 1

February 22, 1997April 27, 2021 Master Of This Domain

Game 633
Maple Leafs 5, Canadiens 1
Saturday, February 22, 1997
Centre Molson, Montréal, Québec

A revival of the over-hyped NHL “rivalry,” between the Maple Leafs and Montréal Canadiens not only would be good hockey, it would be good business.
Continue reading “Game 633 – Maple Leafs 5, Canadiens 1” →

Game 632 – Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 3

November 23, 1996April 27, 2021 Master Of This Domain

Game 632
Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 3
Saturday, November 23, 1996
Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario

At this point in hockey history, the battle in the great rivalry was not for first place or anything truly important, other than a couple of fair teams trying to be good.
Continue reading “Game 632 – Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 3” →

Preseason Game 34 – Canadiens 6, Maple Leafs 4

September 26, 1996February 6, 2021 Master Of This Domain

Preseason Game 34
Canadiens 6, Maple Leafs 4
Thursday, September 26, 1996
Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario

Perhaps, in their minds, there’s some redeeming qualities to the effort put forth last night by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Continue reading “Preseason Game 34 – Canadiens 6, Maple Leafs 4” →

Preseason Game 33 – Canadiens 8, Maple Leafs 3

September 22, 1996February 6, 2021 Master Of This Domain

Preseason Game 33
Canadiens 8, Maple Leafs 3
Sunday, September 22, 1996
Centre Molson, Montréal, Québec

Maple Leaf coach Mike Murphy will today perform the difficult task of separating the wheat from the chaff on his hockey club.
Continue reading “Preseason Game 33 – Canadiens 8, Maple Leafs 3” →

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.