leafs + bruins, 1938: playing havoc

All Hands On Wreck: The Bruins and Leafs, forever antagonists, meet again tonight in Boston with Toronto’s season on the line. Whenever the teams tangle they do, well, tangle. This Maple Leaf Gardens scene dates to Saturday, January 22, 1938, on which night the Bruins (sorry, Leaf fans) thwacked the home team 9-1. Seen here in the third period is Boston’s #12 is Flash Hollett, knotted in with Leaf Syl Apps, who has referee Babe Dye on top of him. The other ref, Clarence Campbell, is at the upper right, inbound. Hollett had earlier whacked Apps in the mouth with his stick, extracting two teeth: that’s how this all started. Also arriving on the scene is Toronto’s Gordie Drillon with Bruin Porky Dumart right behind him. They fought, too, but only Hollett and Apps were assessed penalties: majors for both. (Image: City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266, Item 49121)

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