NHL What-If is a series that looks at big moments in NHL history and wonders what might have happened had things played out slightly differently. The series is a focus on moments that impacted major games and franchises. The first moment to be examined is the Wayne Gretzky high stick non-call from the 1993 Campbell’s Conference Final, Game Six.
NHL What If… Wayne Gretzky High Stick
History
In the 1993 Campbell’s Conference Final, the Los Angeles Kings faced the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both teams were surprise participants in the Campbell’s Conference Final. Both were third in their division, Toronto with 99 points, the Kings with 88. Toronto’s bested rivals Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues both in seven games while the Kings needed six games to top the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
The Leafs had not been to a conference final game since 1978 and the Kings were making their first-ever appearance. The history between the two teams is insignificant. The teams had met twice in the playoffs in 1975 and 1978 with Toronto winning both times.
The Series
Despite this lack of history between the teams, the series was a volatile one. Game 1 saw Kings defenceman Marty McSorley layout Leafs star Doug Gilmour with a (for the time) borderline hit. After the hit, Leafs captain Wendel Clark came to Gilmour’s defence and fought McSorley. The hit was in retaliation to a slash Gilmour put on the Kings Tomas Sandstrom during the regular season. The slash broke Sandstrom’s arm. Gilmour received an eight-game suspension and Sandstrom was out for over a month.
After Gilmour got up off the ice he began to argue with the Kings bench and Leafs coach Pat Burns tried to climb the glass to get at Kings Bench boss Barry Melrose. Series on.
In Game 2, Gilmour tried to get some revenge on McSorley with a head-butt. Had he been called, it would have been a five minute major and a game misconduct. The penalty was not called. Outside of all the bad-blood being created, there was hockey being played. After five games, the Leafs held a 3-2 series lead. To this point, the Leafs had kept Wayne Gretzky in check. While he had five points to this point, the Leafs were controlling the flow of the games. Kings fans were anxious for Gretzky to take over.
What Really Happened
Game 6 was held at the Great Western Forum in L.A. The Leafs were looking to advance to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1967. The Kings were trying to stay alive. The game was dominated by two players for the most part. The Kings, behind a strong game from Luc Robitaille (1G, 3A), held a 4-2 third-period lead. Not to be outdone, Leafs captain Clark scored a hattrick, including two in the third to send the game into overtime, tied 4-4.
With time in regulation winding down in the third, Leafs forward Glenn Anderson took a roughing (would be boarding now) penalty when he hit Kings defenseman Rob Blake into the boards from behind. The Kings, who had already scored three power-play goals in the game would have the man advantage in the extra frame.
On the power play, Gretzky took a shot that was blocked and Gilmour went to the ice seemingly injured. When he got up, he showed referee Kerry Frasier his chin was bleeding, insinuating a high stick. In real-time, it seemed as if it was the puck or the shot follow-through that clipped Gilmour. however, upon further review, Gretzky did high stick Gilmour attempting to retrieve the puck. Had it been called, it would have been a five minute major and game misconduct for Gretzky.
The call was not made and a few moments later, Gretzky scored to win Game 6 for the Kings and force a Game 7. So much salt in the wounds. Gretzky would then play his self-described best game ever in the deciding game. He would score three goals and four points to lead the Kings to a 5-4 Game 7 win.
What If…
This is a what-if that has been an obsession with Leafs Nation since 1993. Many believe the missed call cost them a Stanley Cup. Undoubtedly had the call been made, things get easier for the Leafs to be sure. The remaining Kings power-play time is erased and then they get around a three-minute power-play once Andersson returns to the ice. On top of that, Wayne Gretzky is out of the game. The Leafs win Game 6 in overtime and face the arch-rival Canadiens in the Finals.
This would have been the first time since 1978 that the Habs and Leafs played in a playoff series. It would have been the first time since 1967 that the two old rivals met in the Stanley Cup Finals. It was the matchup people were pulling for, especially in the Stanley Cup centennial year.
This scenario has been posited many times before, mostly by Toronto-based media and fans who assume the Leafs would walk all over the Montreal Canadiens for the Cup. Unfortunately, this wish-fulfillment scenario does not come true. While easy to overlook, the Habs were one of the true teams of destiny in 1993. Patrick Roy was playing on another level during the playoffs and the team was constantly finding ways to win. The Leafs make it more of a series than the Kings did but still fall in seven games.
Galvanized by their run to the ’93 Cup Finals, the Leafs return in 1994 to face the Rangers. Unfortunately, the Leafs can’t get over the hump against the Rangers either. Still, the Leafs would have been to back-to-back Finals for the first time since 1963-64. Unfortunately, they are still looking for their first Cup since ’67.
Clark for Sundin
It’s interesting to note how quickly this edition of the Leafs is dismantled. By 1997, most of the key members are no longer with the team. The biggest trade the Leafs don’t make is Clark for Mats Sundin at the 1994 NHL Draft. With the Leafs back to back Campbell Conference champions, GM Cliff Fletcher sticks it out with his roster hoping to get over the hump. Despite concerns that Clark’s body might be beginning to wear, Fletcher takes one more kick at the can. The Leafs captain and fan favorite sticks around and the Leafs never land Sundin. Unfortunately, this gamble does not pay off with the Red Wings, Dallas Stars, and Colorado Avalanche becoming the class of the Campbell/Western Conference. The Leafs still dismantle but don’t get nearly the return for Clark when they do move on from him.
It’s crazy to think how one missed Wayne Gretzky high stick had such an impact on the Leafs.
