1944–45 Toronto Maple Leafs season

NHL hockey team season (won Stanley Cup) March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1944–45 1944 Toronto Maple Leafs 3rd 24–22–4 13–9–3 11–13–1 183 161 Conn Smythe Hap Day Bob Davidson Maple Leaf Gardens Ted Kennedy (29) Gus Bodnar (36) Ted Kennedy (54) Reg Hamilton (41) Frank McCool (24) Frank McCool (3.22) Yes The 1944–45 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the club's 28th season in the NHL. Toronto finished in third place in the regular season, with a 24–22–4 record, earning 52 points. The Leafs eliminated their archrivals Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, and then defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the 1945 Stanley Cup Finals. 2 Regular season Toronto was a very streaky club during the regular season, where they started off very hot, winning their first six games, and 10 of their first 14, before a mid-season slump, when they managed a 5–10–2 record in 17 games. The Leafs would continue to be a streaky club for the remainder of the year, which included a five-game winning streak, and a seven-game winless streak. Overall, the Maple Leafs managed to end the season with a 24–22–4 record, earning 52 points, and third place in the NHL standings. The Leafs offense was led teenage superstar Ted Kennedy, who turned 19 during the season, and had a club high 29 goals and 54 points. Gus Bodnar, who was also 19 years old, led the club with 36 assists, while Lorne Carr put together another solid season, scoring 21 goals and adding 25 assists for 46 points. Sweeney Schriner, who only appeared in 26 games, managed to score 22 goals and 37 points. Babe Pratt led the Leafs defense, scoring 18 goals and 41 points, while fellow blueliner Reg Hamilton had 15 points, and a team high 41 penalty minutes. In goal, rookie Frank McCool had all the action, winning 24 games and posting a 3.22 GAA, while earning four shutouts. McCool would win the Calder Memorial Trophy for his efforts. The Maple Leafs would open the playoffs against the heavily favoured and defending Stanley Cup champions, the Montreal Canadiens in a best of 7 series. The Canadiens dominated the league, as they had a record of 38–8–4, recording 80 points, which was 28 more than the Leafs. Toronto stunned the Canadiens in the series opener at the Montreal Forum, as Frank McCool shut out the Habs in a 1–0 Leafs victory. The Leafs then went up 2–0 in the series, winning a close game by a 3–2 score. The series shifted to Maple Leaf Gardens, however, the Canadiens roared back, easily defeating Toronto 4–1 to cut the Leafs series lead to 2–1. The fourth game was decided in overtime, and it was the Leafs who were victorious, winning 4–3, and taking a commanding 3–1 series lead. The series moved back to Montreal for the fifth game, and the Canadiens easily dismantled the Leafs, winning 10–3, and sending the series back to Toronto for the sixth game. The Maple Leafs would complete the upset, hanging on for a 4–3 win in the game, and win the series 4–2. Toronto's opponent in the 1945 Stanley Cup Finals was the Detroit Red Wings, who finished the regular season with a 31–14–5 record, earning 67 points, which was 15 higher than the Leafs. The Red Wings had defeated the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round. Toronto, led by Frank McCool, would shutout the Red Wings in the first two games held at the Detroit Olympia for an early series lead. The Maple Leafs returned home for the third game, and took a 3–0 series lead as McCool would earn another shutout as Toronto won the game 1–0. The Red Wings managed to finally find the back of the net in the fourth game, winning 5–3 to avoid the sweep. Detroit goaltender Harry Lumley then shutout the Leafs in the fifth game by a score of 2–0, and he would once again earn a shutout in the sixth game, as Detroit won the game 1–0 in overtime to set up a seventh and deciding game. Toronto, led by goaltender Frank McCool and Babe Pratt, who scored the series winning goal, managed to hang on for a 2–1 victory in the seventh game to win the Stanley Cup for the fifth time in club history, and their first title in three years. Final standings TOR Record vs. opponents TOR Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid; 1944–45 regular season1944-45 Toronto Maple Leafs Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TOR/1945_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 5, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; October Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 1 || October 28 || New York Rangers || 1–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–0–0 || 2 |- | 2 || October 29 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 11–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–0–0 || 4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 3 || November 2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–1 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–0–0 || 6 |- | 4 || November 4 || Boston Bruins || 2–7 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–0–0 || 8 |- | 5 || November 9 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–3 || New York Rangers || 5–0–0 || 10 |- | 6 || November 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–0–0 || 12 |- | 7 || November 12 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–4 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–1–0 || 12 |- | 8 || November 15 || Detroit Red Wings || 8–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–2–0 || 12 |- | 9 || November 18 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–2–0 || 14 |- |10 || November 19 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 8–2–0 || 16 |- |11 || November 23 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–5 || Boston Bruins || 8–3–0 || 16 |- |12 || November 25 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 9–3–0 || 18 |- |13 || November 26 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–4 || Montreal Canadiens || 9–4–0 || 18 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- |14 || December 2 || New York Rangers || 2–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 10–4–0 || 20 |- |15 || December 3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–5 || Boston Bruins || 10–5–0 || 20 |- |16 || December 9 || Boston Bruins || 5–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 10–6–0 || 20 |- |17 || December 14 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 10–6–1 || 21 |- |18 || December 16 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 10–6–2 || 22 |- |19 || December 23 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 10–7–2 || 22 |- |20 || December 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–6 || Detroit Red Wings || 10–8–2 || 22 |- |21 || December 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 8–2 || New York Rangers || 11–8–2 || 24 |- |22 || December 30 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 12–8–2 || 26 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- |23 || January 4 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 13–8–2 || 28 |- |24 || January 6 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 13–9–2 || 28 |- |25 || January 9 || New York Rangers || 5–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 13–10–2 || 28 |- |26 || January 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–7 || Montreal Canadiens || 13–11–2 || 28 |- |27 || January 13 || Boston Bruins || 1–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 14–11–2 || 30 |- |28 || January 14 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–3 || Detroit Red Wings || 14–12–2 || 30 |- |29 || January 16 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–5 || Boston Bruins || 14–13–2 || 30 |- |30 || January 20 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 15–13–2 || 32 |- |31 || January 21 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 15–14–2 || 32 |- |32 || January 27 || New York Rangers || 0–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 16–14–2 || 34 |- |33 || January 28 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–0 || New York Rangers || 17–14–2 || 36 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- |34 || February 3 || Boston Bruins || 4–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 17–15–2 || 36 |- |35 || February 4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 18–15–2 || 38 |- |36 || February 6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–1 || Boston Bruins || 19–15–2 || 40 |- |37 || February 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 19–16–2 || 40 |- |38 || February 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 19–17–2 || 40 |- |39 || February 17 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 19–18–2 || 40 |- |40 || February 18 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–6 || Detroit Red Wings || 19–19–2 || 40 |- |41 || February 24 || New York Rangers || 4–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 19–19–3 || 41 |- |42 || February 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–5 || Montreal Canadiens || 19–20–3 || 41 |- |43 || February 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 19–20–4 || 42 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- |44 || March 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 20–20–4 || 44 |- |45 || March 4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–3 || New York Rangers || 21–20–4 || 46 |- |46 || March 6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–2 || Boston Bruins || 22–20–4 || 48 |- |47 || March 10 || Boston Bruins || 2–9 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 23–20–4 || 50 |- |48 || March 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || Detroit Red Wings || 24–20–4 || 52 |- |49 || March 17 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 24–21–4 || 52 |- |50 || March 18 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–6 || New York Rangers || 24–22–4 || 52 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid; 1945 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; Semifinals vs. (1) Montreal Canadiens – Maple Leafs win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || March 20 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–0 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–0 |- | 2 || March 22 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–0 |- | 3 || March 24 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–1 |- | 4 || March 27 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–1 |- | 5 || March 29 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–10 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 |- | 6 || March 31 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; Stanley Cup Finals vs. (2) Detroit Red Wings – Maple Leafs win 4–3 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–0 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–0 |- | 2 || April 8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–0 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–0 |- | 3 || April 12 || Detroit Red Wings || 0–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–0 |- | 4 || April 14 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–1 |- | 5 || April 19 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–2 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–2 |- | 6 || April 21 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–0 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–3 |- | 7 || April 22 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–1 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–3 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player GP G A Pts PIM Ted Kennedy Ted Kennedy (ice hockey) 49 29 25 54 14 Lorne Carr 47 21 25 46 7 Gus Bodnar 49 8 36 44 18 Babe Pratt 50 18 23 41 39 Sweeney Schriner 26 22 15 37 10 Nick Metz 50 22 13 35 26 Mel Hill 45 18 17 35 14 Bob Davidson Bob Davidson (ice hockey) 50 17 18 35 49 Art Jackson 31 9 13 22 6 Reg Hamilton 50 3 12 15 41 Wally Stanowski 34 2 9 11 16 Pete Backor 36 4 5 9 6 Ross Johnstone 24 3 4 7 8 Tom O'Neill Tom O'Neill (ice hockey) 33 2 5 7 24 John McCreedy 17 2 4 6 11 Bill Ezinicki 8 1 4 5 17 Jack McLean Jack McLean (ice hockey) 8 2 1 3 13 Moe Morris 29 0 2 2 18 Frank McCool 50 0 0 0 0 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SA SV SV% SO Frank McCool 3000 50 24 22 4 161 3.22 4 Team: 3000 50 24 22 4 161 3.22 4 Playoffs Scoring Player GP G A Pts PIM Ted Kennedy Ted Kennedy (ice hockey) 13 7 2 9 2 Babe Pratt 13 2 4 6 8 Mel Hill 13 2 3 5 6 Gus Bodnar 13 3 1 4 4 Sweeney Schriner 13 3 1 4 4 Lorne Carr 13 2 2 4 5 Moe Morris 13 3 0 3 14 Bob Davidson Bob Davidson (ice hockey) 13 1 2 3 2 Nick Metz 7 1 1 2 2 Don Metz Don Metz (ice hockey) 11 0 1 1 4 Wally Stanowski 13 0 1 1 5 Reg Hamilton 13 0 0 0 6 Art Jackson 8 0 0 0 0 Frank McCool 13 0 0 0 0 John McCreedy 8 0 0 0 10 Jack McLean Jack McLean (ice hockey) 4 0 0 0 0 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SA SV SV% SO Frank McCool 807 13 8 5 30 2.23 4 Team: 807 13 8 5 30 2.23 4 hockey-reference.com 2009-05-27 1944-45 Toronto Maple Leafs Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TOR/1945.html Transactions October 13, 1944: Acquired Bill Ezinicki from the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL for George Boothman and Don Webster October 25, 1944: Signed Free Agent Frank McCool November 24, 1944: Acquired John Mahaffy from the Montreal Canadiens for cash December 24, 1944: Acquired Art Jackson from the Boston Bruins for $7,500 and Future Considerations See also 1944–45 NHL season References SHRP Sports The Internet Hockey Database Goalies Archive National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons Category:Toronto Maple Leafs seasons Toronto Toronto Category:1940s in Toronto Category:1944 in sports in Ontario Category:1945 in sports in Ontario