Maple Leaf Gardens history

Sep. 4, 1972: Team Canada beats the USSR 4-1 in one of the greatest games at the Gardens. Canada would go on to win the Summit Series 4-3-1.

Sep. 19, 1964: The first NHL Pre-Season game between NHL opponents at the Gardens.

Oct. 13, 1947: Leafs play NHL All Stars in the first game between Stanley Cup Champions and NHL All Stars (4-3 All Stars). Considered the first ever NHL All Star game.

Oct. 13, 1951: At 3 pm the Chicago Blackhawks played an abbreviated game with the Leafs solely for the benefit of royal visitors, Her Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth, and His Royal Highness, Prince Phillip. At 8:30 pm the two pro teams took to the ice again for the season opener. Chicago won the game 3-1.

Oct. 15, 1983: The Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs combined to score five goals in 1 minute, 24 seconds at Maple Leaf Gardens. A National Hockey League record that still stands today.

Oct. 25, 1967: The NHL had expanded to twelve teams during the summer. On this date the Leafs played the Los Angeles Kings, the first expansion team to play in the building.

Oct. 30, 1943: Gus Bodnar, playing his first NHL game, sets an NHL record that still stands today for fastest goal by a rookie (15 seconds). The Leafs defeated the New York Rangers 5-2 at MLG.

Nov. 1, 1946: The first professional indoor basketball game in the NBA is played at the Gardens. The New York Knickerbockers defeated the Toronto Huskies 68-66.

Nov. 10, 1934: The first NHL penalty shot at the Gardens, Leafs against Canadiens, Mondou of Montreal took the shot against Hainsworth of Toronto, but missed. Toronto won the game 2-1.

Nov. 12, 1931: Maple Leaf Gardens opens as the Leafs play against the Blackhawks (2-1 Chicago). Harold "Mush" March of Chicago scores the first goal in Gardens history. Charlie Conacher scores the first goal ever at MLG for the Leafs.

Nov. 28, 1931: Leafs beat Boston 4-3, the first victory for the Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Dec. 6, 1931: Leafs beat the Montreal Maroons 4-0, the first Leaf shut-out in the Gardens. Lorne Chabot was in goal for Toronto.

Jan. 8, 1944: Babe Pratt sets an NHL record for a defenceman (since tied) with six assists in one game as the Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins 12-3.

Jan. 8, 1947: Howie Meeker scored five goals against Chicago, an NHL record for most goals by a rookie in one game (later tied by Don Murdoch in 1976).

Feb. 2, 1977: Ian Turnbull sets an NHL record for a defenceman with five goals in one game as Toronto defeats Detroit 9-1 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Feb. 7, 1976: Darryl Sittler sets the NHL standard for most points in one game (10) with six goals, four assists versus Boston.

 Feb. 13, 1999: The Maple Leafs play their final game at Maple Leaf Gardens as they face the Chicago Blackhawks-the first team they played at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 12, 1931.

Feb. 14, 1934: "Ace Bailey Benefit Game" is played at MLG. A packed house watches the Leafs defeat the NHL All Stars 7-3. From this beginning, the All Star game became an annual event in 1947.

Mar. 16, 1957: Leafs set a team record by scoring 14 goals against the Rangers at MLG (14-1).

Mar. 21, 1951: First ever "televised" hockey game, seen by CBC employees only (a programming experiment). Leafs defeat Montreal 1-0.

Apr. 1, 1931: Old houses and stores at the corner of Church and Carlton were demolished in preparation for the construction of the building.

Apr. 3, 1933: Ken Doraty scores a goal at 104:46 (1:48 AM) of OT as the Leafs defeat Boston 1-0 in a Stanley Cup semifinal game. It is the second longest overtime game in league history.

Apr. 9, 1932: The Toronto Maple Leafs win the third game of a best-of-five series to capture the Stanley Cup, the first on Maple Leaf Gardens ice, with a 6-4 win over the Rangers.

Apr. 16, 1949: The Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 to win the Stanley Cup for the third straight year (second straight at Maple Leaf Gardens). The first modern era team to win the Cup three years in a row.

Apr. 18, 1942: Leafs are the only team to lose the first three games of the Finals and then win the Stanley Cup, defeating Detroit on this day 3-1 in the seventh and deciding game at MLG.

Apr. 18, 1963: The Maple Leafs defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 at MLG and win the Stanley Cup in five games (4-1)

Apr. 19, 1947: The Leafs beat Montreal 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup for the third time on Gardens ice. 

Apr. 21, 1951: Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in the fifth game of the finals at MLG to win the Stanley Cup.

Apr. 25, 1964: The Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 at MLG to win the Stanley cup, four games to three.

May 2, 1967: Leafs win the Stanley Cup, beating Montreal four games to two. It was the first time the Leafs had played in May, and the last time they won the Stanley Cup.

Jun. 1, 1931: Ground was broken June 1, 1931 and just 165 days later Maple Leaf Gardens hosted its first NHL game. 



                                                           

                   




<