Toronto Maple Leafs win Stanley Cup

The 1948 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Detroit Red Wings and the defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs would win the series in four-straight games to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup.

Detroit defeated the New York Rangers 4–2 to advance to the finals. Toronto defeated the Boston Bruins 4–1 to advance to the finals.

This was the debut series for Detroit's Gordie Howe, and the last for Toronto's Syl Apps who retired after the series.

Toronto finished the regular season in first place in 1947-48, accumulating 77 points. The Leafs faced third place Boston, while second place Detroit was challenged by the New York Rangers in the other series. Toronto came out of the opening round after pushing the Bruins aside in five games. Meanwhile, the Red Wings defeated the Rangers in six games to set up the Stanley Cup match-up. The final was completed in just four games, with the Maple Leafs sweeping the Red Wings, and the series, to win the Stanley Cup for their second straight season. Toronto's Harry Watson scored a series-high five goals. The Leafs became one of just four NHL teams to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. The Ottawa Senators in 1920 and 1921, the Montreal Canadiens in 1930 and 1931 and the Detroit Red Wings in 1936 and 1937 preceded the Maple Leafs to back-to-back victories. It was the end of an outstanding career for Leafs' captain Syl Apps, while future Hall of Fame member, Gordie Howe, appeared in his first playoff series.