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The Toronto Maple Leafs first played host to the Montreal Canadiens at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 14, 1931. The great Canadian rivalry has been one rich in bitterness, intensity, memories and tradition. With the closing of the Montreal Forum a few years ago, the rivalry lost one of the two intimate, Original Six venues that played host to some 300 Leafs-Habs games. On December 26, 1998, the rivalry bid farewell to the second venue, Maple Leaf Gardens.

The Canadiens needed a win to avoid matching their longest winless streak in team history of 12 games. That streak was set in 1925-26, and matched in 1935-36, back in the Canadiens' early days of visiting the Gardens. The Habs did not want their final visit to Maple Leaf Gardens to be an all-time low moment for their storied franchise.

Stephane Quintal converted a two-on-one pass from Saku Koivu - depositing the puck between Curtis Joseph's pads - at just past the 15-minute mark of the third period to give the Habs a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory over the Maple Leafs. The Canadiens out-hustled the Leafs, who played poorly in the defensive zone and had trouble putting the puck on net.

The night began on a somber note, as the crowd was informed that Maple Leaf Hall-of-Famer Syl Apps had passed away two days earlier, on Christmas Eve. A moment of silence was observed in his honor. His #10 jersey was one of several hanging in honor from the rafters in Maple Leaf Gardens.

The Maple Leafs organized a special pre-game presentation on behalf of the club to the Canadiens, which they have done as each Original Six team pays their final visit to the Gardens. Toronto great Ted "Teeder" Kennedy was introduced as the Maple Leaf presenter to much applause.

Maurice "The Rocket" Richard was introduced next. The standing ovation sent chills through my spine. Attending my first game at Maple Leaf Gardens, I felt like I was in the presence of greatness. The respect and admiration from the mix of Leafs and Canadiens fans for the 77-year old Rocket proved that honor indeed comes with age.

After Kennedy presented Richard with a glass plate, the two legends dropped the ceremonial first pucks between Montreal captain Vincent Damphousse and Toronto captain Mats Sundin.

Strangely, as Sundin drew his puck back, Kennedy reached over and lifted Damphousse's stick. Sundin went to his backhand to draw Damphousse's puck. Realizing what was happening, the Rocket took him out with a cold, hard shoulder to the chops. He's quick like that. Teeder motioned as if to come to the aid of Mats, but Vinny wouldn't have any of that. Ah, that's great stuff.

RIVALS
Public address announcer Paul Morris provided a legendary introduction:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, every team needs a great opponent. Someone who gives you your highest highs and your lowest lows. Your best and worst and most memorable moments. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, that team is the Montreal Canadiens. Together the Leafs and Canadiens form simply the greatest rivalry in hockey. Tonight is the 301st and final time the Canadiens will play on Gardens ice."

Maple Leaf president Ken Dryden, a former Canadien goaltending great himself, played in many Toronto-Montreal games in his day as a Hab. "This is the true rivalry between teams," Dryden explained. "What happens, over time you come to realize those teams that mean the most to you."

The idols of French Canada were invading Maple Leaf Gardens for the final time. The game programs sold out half an hour before the game started. Fans wanted to capture every one of the last moments. It would prove to be a dandy of a game.

Just over 30 seconds into the contest, Steve Thomas converted a cross-ice two-on-one pass from Sundin to draw first blood. The Habs looked like a team that hadn't won yet in the month of December. Yet the Leafs wouldn't have a sniff the rest of the period.

At 3:04 of the first period, Steve Sullivan gave the puck away at the Maple Leaf blue line. It was characteristic of Toronto's poor defensive zone play on the night. Eric Weinrich capitalized on the giveaway, blasting a low slap shot from the top of the right circle stick-side past Joseph to even the score at 1-1.

The scariest moment of the game occurred with just under four minutes to go in the opening period. As Sergei Berezin was upended heading to the net, his skate clipped teammate Steve Thomas in the face. The Toronto goal-scorer was knocked out of the game, needing 30+ stitches on his forehead and face.

The Canadiens, already snake-bitten for goals on the season, had two disallowed after further review by the video goal judge. Mark Recchi was the first victim, as his goal was waved off because he "kicked" the puck in with his shin guard. Replays did not conclusively show this, and actually it appeared he knocked it in with his stick.

Recchi was upset about the ruling: "I don't know what they were smoking up there. Twice it hit my stick, not just once but twice." Ah, but that's the NHL for you, Mark.

Later in the second period, Benoit Brunet accidently redirected the puck off his shin guard in the net. His right skate was barely in the crease before the puck went in, and the goal was subsequently ruled no good. The most pathetic part of it all was how Joseph didn't even move on the goal, as he and the Maple Leaf defenseman just pointed down at the crease after the goal as they appealed to referee Dan Marouelli.

Joseph did make many spectacular saves on the evening, most of the sprawling goal-mouth variety. CuJo seemed to lose his stick more often than any other goaltender I've seen.

The number one star of the game was Joseph's counterpart at the other end of the ice. Jeff Hackett didn't have much work in the first period, but made all the big saves in the final two frames. The best of his 29 saves came late in the second period. After stopping a Berezin slap shot from the left circle, he shuffled over to his right in time to make a diving toe save by the post on Garry Valk. Hackett was solid, aggressive on his angles and outplayed Joseph to win the game for the Habs.

Maple Leafs Gardens Feature

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