1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season
NHL hockey team season
The 1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 69th season of the franchise and its 59th season as the Maple Leafs. Despite posting the third-worst record in the league, the Leafs qualified for the last playoff spot in a very weak Norris Division ; the division champion Chicago Black Hawks , whom they had little trouble against, winning six times out of eight regular season games between them, only recorded 86 points.[ 1] [ 2] The Leafs' .356 winning percentage is the fourth-worst in franchise history and one of the worst ever for a playoff qualifier.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5]
Despite this, the Leafs swept the Hawks, who they defeated six times out of eight in the regular season, in three games in the Norris Semi-finals for a total of nine times out of 11[ 1] [ 2] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] before being eliminated by the St. Louis Blues in a seven-game Norris Final.[ 11] [ 12]
Offseason
NHL Draft
Regular season
Final standings
[ 13] Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Record vs. opponents
Norris Division record vs. opponents
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1985–86 NHL records[ 14]
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Chicago
—
6−2
3−3−2
5−3
2−6
16−14−2
Detroit
2−6
—
1−6−1
2−5−1
3−4−1
8−21−3
Minnesota
3−3−2
6−1−1
—
4−3−1
7−0−1
20−7−5
St. Louis
3−5
5−2−1
3−4−1
—
3−3−2
14−14−4
Toronto
6−2
4−3−1
0−7−1
3−3−2
—
13−15−4
Vs. Smythe Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Chicago
2−1
0−3
1−0−2
3−0
2−1
8−5−2
Detroit
0−2−1
0−3
2−1
0−3
0−3
2−12−1
Minnesota
2−0−1
1−2
1−2
1−2
1−2
6−8−1
St. Louis
2−1
1−1−1
1−1−1
3−0
2−1
9−4−2
Toronto
1−2
1−2
1−2
0−2−1
1−1−1
4−9−2
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Chicago
2−1
2−1
2−1
0−2−1
1−2
7−7−1
Detroit
1−2
1−1−1
1−2
0−3
1−2
4−10−1
Minnesota
0−3
1−2
2−1
1−1−1
1−2
5−9−1
St. Louis
2−1
1−2
1−1−1
2−1
2−1
8−6−1
Toronto
0−2−1
2−1
0−3
1−2
0−3
3−11−1
Vs. Patrick Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
1−2
2−0−1
3−0
0−2−1
1−1−1
1−2
8−7−3
Detroit
0−2−1
0−3
0−3
1−2
1−2
1−2
3−14−1
Minnesota
2−1
2−0−1
2−1
0−2−1
0−3
1−2
7−9−2
St. Louis
2−1
1−1−1
1−1−1
1−2
1−2
0−3
6−10−2
Toronto
2−1
0−3
1−2
1−2
0−3
1−2
5−13−0
Schedule and results
No.
R
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
1
L
October 10, 1985
1–3
@ Boston Bruins (1985–86 )
0–1–0
2
L
October 12, 1985
0–4
Quebec Nordiques (1985–86 )
0–2–0
3
W
October 13, 1985
5–1
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86 )
1–2–0
4
L
October 16, 1985
5–6 OT
Washington Capitals (1985–86 )
1–3–0
5
L
October 19, 1985
3–4
Winnipeg Jets (1985–86 )
1–4–0
6
L
October 23, 1985
4–5
Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86 )
1–5–0
7
L
October 24, 1985
4–6
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86 )
1–6–0
8
L
October 26, 1985
5–7
Minnesota North Stars (1985–86 )
1–7–0
9
L
October 30, 1985
3–5
@ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86 )
1–8–0
10
L
November 2, 1985
2–4
@ Calgary Flames (1985–86 )
1–9–0
11
L
November 3, 1985
1–7
@ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86 )
1–10–0
12
L
November 6, 1985
4–5
New York Islanders (1985–86 )
1–11–0
13
T
November 8, 1985
3–3 OT
@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86 )
1–11–1
14
T
November 9, 1985
2–2 OT
St. Louis Blues (1985–86 )
1–11–2
15
L
November 12, 1985
3–4 OT
@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86 )
1–12–2
16
T
November 14, 1985
6–6 OT
Boston Bruins (1985–86 )
1–12–3
17
W
November 16, 1985
6–4
Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86 )
2–12–3
18
W
November 17, 1985
5–3
@ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86 )
3–12–3
19
L
November 20, 1985
3–7
@ New York Rangers (1985–86 )
3–13–3
20
W
November 23, 1985
9–3
Detroit Red Wings (1985–86 )
4–13–3
21
L
November 26, 1985
1–5
@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86 )
4–14–3
22
L
November 27, 1985
1–7
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86 )
4–15–3
23
W
November 30, 1985
3–2 OT
Buffalo Sabres (1985–86 )
5–15–3
24
W
December 4, 1985
10–7
New Jersey Devils (1985–86 )
6–15–3
25
W
December 5, 1985
6–3
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86 )
7–15–3
26
L
December 7, 1985
3–6
Montreal Canadiens (1985–86 )
7–16–3
27
L
December 10, 1985
2–3
@ Washington Capitals (1985–86 )
7–17–3
28
W
December 11, 1985
6–4
St. Louis Blues (1985–86 )
8–17–3
29
T
December 14, 1985
6–6 OT
@ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86 )
8–17–4
30
T
December 15, 1985
3–3 OT
@ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86 )
8–17–5
31
L
December 18, 1985
3–4
@ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86 )
8–18–5
32
L
December 20, 1985
3–5
@ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86 )
8–19–5
33
W
December 26, 1985
5–4
@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86 )
9–19–5
34
L
December 28, 1985
3–6
Hartford Whalers (1985–86 )
9–20–5
35
W
January 1, 1986
3–2
Montreal Canadiens (1985–86 )
10–20–5
36
L
January 4, 1986
4–6
Los Angeles Kings (1985–86 )
10–21–5
37
L
January 5, 1986
5–6
Detroit Red Wings (1985–86 )
10–22–5
38
W
January 8, 1986
11–9
Edmonton Oilers (1985–86 )
11–22–5
39
L
January 10, 1986
7–9
@ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86 )
11–23–5
40
L
January 11, 1986
1–5
Quebec Nordiques (1985–86 )
11–24–5
41
W
January 13, 1986
7–4
Detroit Red Wings (1985–86 )
12–24–5
42
L
January 15, 1986
1–10
@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86 )
12–25–5
43
L
January 18, 1986
2–5
Minnesota North Stars (1985–86 )
12–26–5
44
L
January 19, 1986
5–9
Calgary Flames (1985–86 )
12–27–5
45
L
January 22, 1986
2–4
New York Rangers (1985–86 )
12–28–5
46
L
January 23, 1986
1–4
@ Hartford Whalers (1985–86 )
12–29–5
47
L
January 25, 1986
2–3 OT
@ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86 )
12–30–5
48
L
January 28, 1986
2–9
@ New York Islanders (1985–86 )
12–31–5
49
W
January 29, 1986
5–2
Washington Capitals (1985–86 )
13–31–5
50
L
February 1, 1986
4–7
Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86 )
13–32–5
51
W
February 2, 1986
4–3
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86 )
14–32–5
52
L
February 6, 1986
7–8 OT
@ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86 )
14–33–5
53
W
February 8, 1986
3–2 OT
St. Louis Blues (1985–86 )
15–33–5
54
L
February 11, 1986
2–4
Minnesota North Stars (1985–86 )
15–34–5
55
L
February 13, 1986
4–5 OT
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86 )
15–35–5
56
W
February 15, 1986
4–3
Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86 )
16–35–5
57
T
February 16, 1986
4–4 OT
Vancouver Canucks (1985–86 )
16–35–6
58
L
February 19, 1986
5–9
@ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86 )
16–36–6
59
W
February 20, 1986
7–6 OT
@ Calgary Flames (1985–86 )
17–36–6
60
L
February 23, 1986
3–4
@ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86 )
17–37–6
61
W
February 25, 1986
7–3
New York Rangers (1985–86 )
18–37–6
62
W
February 28, 1986
7–3
@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86 )
19–37–6
63
L
March 1, 1986
4–6
Detroit Red Wings (1985–86 )
19–38–6
64
W
March 3, 1986
6–1
Winnipeg Jets (1985–86 )
20–38–6
65
L
March 5, 1986
3–5
@ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86 )
20–39–6
66
L
March 6, 1986
4–7
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86 )
20–40–6
67
W
March 8, 1986
4–3
Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86 )
21–40–6
68
W
March 13, 1986
7–4
@ New Jersey Devils (1985–86 )
22–40–6
69
L
March 15, 1986
5–6 OT
Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86 )
22–41–6
70
W
March 17, 1986
7–6
Los Angeles Kings (1985–86 )
23–41–6
71
L
March 19, 1986
2–5
@ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86 )
23–42–6
72
L
March 20, 1986
1–7
New York Islanders (1985–86 )
23–43–6
73
L
March 22, 1986
3–6
New Jersey Devils (1985–86 )
23–44–6
74
L
March 26, 1986
1–6
Minnesota North Stars (1985–86 )
23–45–6
75
W
March 29, 1986
4–1
St. Louis Blues (1985–86 )
24–45–6
76
W
March 30, 1986
5–4 OT
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86 )
25–45–6
77
T
April 1, 1986
2–2 OT
@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86 )
25–45–7
78
L
April 3, 1986
2–4
@ Boston Bruins (1985–86 )
25–46–7
79
L
April 5, 1986
1–7
@ Hartford Whalers (1985–86 )
25–47–7
80
L
April 6, 1986
2–4
@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86 )
25–48–7
[ 15]
Player statistics
Regular season
Scoring
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
T
GA
GAA
SO
SA
SV
SV%
Don Edwards
2009
38
12
23
0
160
4.78
0
1140
980
.860
Ken Wregget
1566
30
9
13
4
113
4.33
0
901
788
.875
Tim Bernhardt
1266
23
4
12
3
107
5.07
0
727
620
.853
Allan Bester
20
1
0
0
0
2
6.00
0
5
3
.600
Team:
4861
80
25
48
7
382
4.72
0
2773
2391
.862
Playoffs
Scoring
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
GA
GAA
SO
SA
SV
SV%
Ken Wregget
607
10
6
4
32
3.16
1
323
291
.901
Team:
607
10
6
4
32
3.16
1
323
291
.901
[ 16]
Playoffs
Norris Division semi-finals
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Chicago Black Hawks
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 9
Toronto
5
Chicago
3
April 10
Toronto
6
Chicago
4
April 12
Chicago
2
Toronto
7
Toronto wins best-of-five series 3–0
Norris Division Finals
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. St. Louis Blues
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 18
Toronto
1
St. Louis
6
April 20
Toronto
3
St. Louis
0
April 22
St. Louis
2
Toronto
5
April 24
St. Louis
7
Toronto
4
April 26
Toronto
3
St. Louis
4
(OT)
April 28
St. Louis
3
Toronto
5
April 30
Toronto
1
St. Louis
2
St. Louis wins best-of-seven series 4–3
Transactions
The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1985–86 season.
Trades
Free agents
Awards and records
Farm Teams
The Maple Leafs were affiliated with the St. Catharines Saints of the AHL .
References
^ a b McDill, Kent (April 9, 1986). "Seldom has a first-place team been less favored in... – UPI Archives" . UPI . Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ a b "The Toronto Maple Leafs have only managed to win... – UPI Archives" . UPI . Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ "NHL Roundup – UPI Archives" . UPI . March 21, 1986. Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ "From out of the lineup to the star of..." UPI . April 28, 1986. Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ "Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook – UPI Archives" . UPI . April 27, 1986. Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ McDill, Kent (April 9, 1986). "Gary Leeman scored the go-ahead goal and set up..." UPI . Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ McDill, Kent (April 10, 1986). "The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the playoffs with the... – UPI Archives" . UPI . Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ McDill, Kent (April 11, 1986). "The greatest playoff performance in Chicago Blackhawks history and... – UPI Archives" . UPI . Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ McDill, Kent (April 11, 1986). "Al Iafrate can already hear the cheers at Toronto's... – UPI Archives" . UPI . Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ "The Toronto Maple Leafs accomplished two surprising feats Saturday... – UPI Archives" . UPI . Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ "Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook – UPI Archives" . UPI . Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ "Blues eliminate Maple Leafs" . New York Times . United Press International . May 1, 1986. Retrieved January 27, 2024 .
^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 . Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225 .
^ "All-Time NHL Results" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 25, 2023 .
^ "1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs Games" . Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2009 .
^ "1985-86 Toronto Maple Leafs Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com" . hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009 .
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