Toronto Maple Leafs win Stanley Cup
The 1932 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-five series between the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto would win the series in three straight to win their first Stanley Cup.
New York would have to play game two in Boston, due to the circus having been booked into Madison Square Garden.
Toronto's 'Kid Line' of Jackson, Conacher and Primeau, in their first Finals, combined for eight goals.
Toronto's coach Dick Irvin made his second straight Finals appearance, having coached for Chicago in 1931.
In order to earn a spot in the Stanley Cup final, Canadian Division first place finisher, the Montreal Canadiens, were challenged by the New York Rangers, who had topped the American Division. The Rangers won the best of five series three games to one. The also-rans battled for their opportunity too. Both Toronto and the Maroons advanced after outscoring Chicago and Detroit respectively. The two game total goal series saw the Maroons and Leafs deadlocked at three goals apiece at the end of regulation time in the second and final game. Eighteen minutes into overtime, the Leafs' Bob Gracie scored to give Toronto a berth in the Cup final. Due to the circus taking over Madison Square Garden, only one game was played in New York?a 6-4 Leaf win. The remaining games were played in Toronto's brand new arena?Maple Leaf Gardens. Toronto completed the three-game sweep with scores of 6-2 and 6-4. The Maple Leafs were paced by their famed Kid Line ? Charlie Conacher, Joe Primeau and Busher Jackson ? who combined for 16 points in the finals. Toronto's coach Dick Irvin, who lost the 1931 final while with Chicago, earned his first championship, but cut the celebration short. His infant son, television broadcaster Dick Irvin, was seriously ill and Dad was forced to rush to Calgary.
The 1931–32 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's fifteenth season in the NHL. The Maple Leafs were coming off their best regular season in team history in 1930–31, and the club set team records in wins and points, with 23 and 53 respectively, finishing in second place in the Canadian Division. Toronto then won three playoff rounds to win the Stanley Cup, first as the Maple Leafs, and third in the history of the franchise.
The Maple Leafs would open the playoffs against the Chicago Black Hawks in a two game, total goal series. The Black Hawks had a record of 18–19–11, earning 47 points, and finished in second place in the American Division. The Leafs dropped the opening game by a close 1–0 score at Chicago Stadium, however, they returned home for the second game, and Toronto easily defeated the Black Hawks 6–1, and won the total goal series by a score of 6–2, advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
Toronto's next opponent was the Montreal Maroons in another two game, total goal series. The Maroons finished behind Toronto in the Canadian Division, as they finished with a 19–22–7 record, registering 43 points. The Maroons defeated the Detroit Falcons in the opening round of the playoffs. The series opened at the Montreal Forum, and the game ended in a 1–1 tie. The second game was played at Maple Leaf Gardens, and Toronto used home ice to their advantage, defeating the Maroons 3–2 in overtime to win the series 4–3, and move to the Stanley Cup finals.
The Leafs would play the New York Rangers in a best of 5 series to determine the winner of the 1932 Stanley Cup Finals. The Rangers finished in first place in the American Division with a 23–17–8 record, earning 54 points. They had defeated the Montreal Canadiens in four games to advance to the finals. The series opened at Madison Square Garden in New York, however, it was the Leafs who struck first, defeating the Rangers 6–4. The second game of the series was moved from New York to the Boston Garden due to the circus having been booked for the Rangers home arena. Toronto took full advantage of this, and easily defeated the Rangers 6–2 to come within a victory of the Stanley Cup. The series moved to Toronto for the third game, and Toronto completed the sweep, defeating New York 6–4, and winning their third Stanley Cup in team history, and first since 1922, when they were still named the Toronto St. Pats. The "Kid Line" of Jackson, Conacher, and Primeau combined for 8 goals in the 3 games.
The year is 1932. The Toronto Maple Leafs, comfortable in their new $1.5 million Maple Leaf Gardens, are challenging the New York Rangers for the Stanley Cup championship. Because the circus is in Madison Square Gardens, the Rangers second home game of the series (game 2) was played in Toronto.
The Leafs are led by nicknamed superstars like Busher Jackson, the Big Bomber Charlie Conacher, Gentleman Joe Primeau, King Clancy, Red Horner, Ace Bailey and Baldy Cotton.
The Rangers counter with the best line in hockey - Frank Boucher centering brothers Bill Cook and Bun Cook.
