I wonder how many members of the 1942 Stanley Cup-winning Toronto Maple Leafs are still with us and if they are as proud of their accomplishment as the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
The members of that Dolphins team are very protective of their perfect NFL season and drink a toast to their legacy when the last unbeaten NFL team falls each year.
The ’42 Leafs, obviously, didn’t go undefeated, but they are the only team in NHL history to rally from a 3-1 deficit (actually 3-0) in the finals to win the Cup. For the third time in the last 18 seasons, a team will try to join those Leafs in NHL history.
Were the ’42 Leafs rooting for the New York Rangers against Vancouver in 1994 or for Edmonton against the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987? Those teams came up short after forcing a Game 7.
With their win Saturday, the ’06 Oilers are threatening the legacy of the ’42 Leafs once again.
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rfoltman@tribune.com
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