Editing Toronto Maple Leafs (section)

==== The Barilko Curse (1950s) ====
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens met again in the [[1951 Stanley Cup Finals|1951 finals]], with five consecutive [[overtime (ice hockey)|overtime]] games played in the series.<ref name=MLH50>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42184|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1950s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 22, 2017}}</ref> Defenceman [[Bill Barilko]] managed to score the series-winning goal in overtime, leaving his defensive position (despite coach [[Joe Primeau]]'s instructions otherwise) to pick up an errant pass and score.<ref name=MLH50 /> Barilko helped the club secure its fourth Stanley Cup in five years. His glory was short-lived, as he disappeared in a plane crash near [[Timmins]], Ontario, four months later.<ref name=MLH50 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=123}} The crash site was not found until a helicopter pilot discovered the plane's wreckage plane about {{convert|80|km|mi}} north of [[Cochrane, Ontario]] 11 years later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/20/barilkos-plane-finally-arrives-home|title=Barilko's plane finally arrives home|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=October 20, 2011|access-date=June 22, 2017|last=Pagan|first=Ken|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212437/http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/20/barilkos-plane-finally-arrives-home|archive-date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> The Leafs did not win another Cup during the 1950s, with rumours swirling that the team was "[[Sports-related curses|cursed]]", and would not win a cup until Barilko's body was found.<ref name=curse>{{cite book|title=The Sound of One Team Sucking: Mindful Meditations for Recovering Leafs Fans|page=106|first=Christopher|last=Gudgeon|publisher=Dundurn|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4597-3836-2}}</ref> The "curse" came to an end after the Leafs' 1962 Stanley Cup victory, which came six weeks before the discovery of the wreckage of Barilko's plane.<ref name=curse />

Their 1951 victory was followed by lacklustre performances in the following seasons. The team finished third in the [[1951–52 NHL season|1951–52 season]] and was eventually swept by the Red Wings in the semifinals.<ref name=MLH50 /> With the conclusion of the [[1952–53 NHL season|1952–53 regular season]], the Leafs failed to make it to the postseason for the first time since the 1945–46 playoffs.<ref name=MLH50 /> The Leafs' poor performance may be attributed partly to a decline in their sponsored junior system (including the [[Toronto St. Michael's Majors]] and the [[Toronto Marlboros]]).<ref name=MLH50 /> The junior system was managed by [[Frank J. Selke]] until his departure to the Canadiens in 1946. In his absence, the quality of players it produced declined. Many who were called up to the Leafs in the early 1950s were found to be seriously lacking in ability. It was only later in the decade that the Leafs' feeder clubs produced prospects that helped them become competitive again.<ref name=MLH50 />

After a two-year drought from the playoffs, the Maple Leafs clinched a berth after the [[1958–59 NHL season|1958–59 season]]. Under [[Punch Imlach]], their new general manager and coach, the Leafs made it to the [[1959 Stanley Cup Finals|1959 Finals]], losing to the Canadiens in five games.<ref name=MLH50 /> Building on a successful playoff run, the Leafs followed up with a second-place finish in the [[1959–60 NHL season|1959–60]] regular season. Although they advanced to their second straight Cup Finals, the Leafs were again defeated by the Canadiens in four games.<ref name=MLH50 />