Editing Toronto Maple Leafs (section)

==== The first dynasty (1940s) ====
[[File:Leafs v Red Wings 1942.jpg|thumb|alt=Red Wings and Maple Leaf game during the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals, with Maple Leafs players celebrating moments after scoring a goal.|The Maple Leafs score against Detroit during the [[1942 Stanley Cup Finals|1942 Cup Finals]]. The Leafs went on to win the series, performing the only [[List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits|reverse-sweep]] in the Finals.]]
In the [[1942 Stanley Cup Finals]], the Maple Leafs were down three games to none in the best-of-seven series against Detroit. Fourth-line forward [[Don Metz (ice hockey)|Don Metz]] then galvanized the team, to score a [[hat-trick]] in game four and the game-winner in game five.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=83–84}} Goalie [[Turk Broda]] shut out the Wings in game six, and [[Sweeney Schriner]] scored two goals in the third period to win the [[seventh game]] 3–1, completing the [[Game seven#comeback|reverse-sweep]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=84}} The Leafs remain [[List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits|the only team to have successfully performed a reverse-sweep]] in the Stanley Cup finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/16685483/hall-flameout-25-worst-collapses-sports-history|title=Hall of Flameout: The 25 worst collapses in sports history|work=ESPN|access-date=June 22, 2017|date=June 12, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716151100/http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/16685483/hall-flameout-25-worst-collapses-sports-history|archive-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> Captain [[Syl Apps]] won the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]] that season, not taking one penalty, and finished his 10-season career with an average of 5 minutes, 36 seconds in penalties a season.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=81}}

Smythe, who reenlisted in the Canadian Army at the outbreak of [[World War II]], was given leave from military duty to view the final game of the 1942 finals. He arrived at the game in full military regalia.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=84}} Earlier, at the outbreak of war, Smythe arranged for many of his Maple Leafs players and staff to take army training with the [[Toronto Scottish Regiment]]. Most notably, the Leafs announced a large portion of their roster had enlisted, including Apps, and Broda,{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=80}} who did not play on the team for several seasons due to their obligations with the [[Canadian Forces]].<ref name=MLH40>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42185|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1940s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 22, 2017}}</ref> During this period, the Leafs turned to lesser-known players such as [[rookie]] goaltender [[Frank McCool]] and defenceman [[Babe Pratt]].<ref name=MLH40 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=86–87}}

The Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings in the [[1945 Stanley Cup Finals|1945 Finals]]. They won the first three games, with goaltender McCool recording consecutive shutouts. However, in a reversal of the 1942 finals, the Red Wings won the next three games.<ref name=MLH40 /> The Leafs were able to win the series, winning the seventh game by the score of 2–1 to prevent a complete reversal of the series played three years ago.<ref name=MLH40 />

[[File:Toronto Maple Leafs Players 1946.jpg|thumb|alt=Ice hockey players in a locker room. Two are sitting on a locker room bench, with another two players standing behind them.|Maple Leafs players during the [[1946–47 NHL season|1946–47 season]]. The team would win its sixth Stanley Cup that season.]]
After the end of the war, players who had enlisted were beginning to return to their teams.<ref name=MLH40 /> With Apps and Broda regaining their form, the Maple Leafs beat the first-place Canadiens in the [[1947 Stanley Cup Finals|1947 finals]].<ref name=MLH40 /> To bolster their centre depth, the Leafs acquired [[Cy Thomas]] and [[Max Bentley]] in the following off-season. With these key additions, the Leafs were able to win a second consecutive Stanley Cup, sweeping the Red Wings in the [[1948 Stanley Cup Finals|1948 finals]].<ref name=MLH40 /> With their victory in 1948, the Leafs moved ahead of Montreal as the team having won the most Stanley Cups in League history. Apps announced his retirement following the 1948 finals, with [[Ted Kennedy (ice hockey)|Ted Kennedy]] replacing him as the team's captain.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=107}} Under a new captaincy, the Leafs managed to make it to the [[1949 Stanley Cup Finals|1949 finals]], facing the Red Wings, who had finished the season with the best overall record. However, the Leafs went on to win their third consecutive Cup, sweeping the Red Wings in four games. This brought the total of Detroit's playoff game losses against the Leafs to eleven.<ref name=MLH40 /> The Red Wings were able to end this losing streak in the following postseason, eliminating Toronto in the 1950 NHL playoffs.<ref name=MLH40 />