Interesting parallels/coincidences between arguably the biggest market in the NBA (NY) and definitely the biggest market in the NHL( Toronto)
Last Stanley cup title for the leafs : 1967. It was also their last cup final appearance.
Last nba title/Larry o brien trophy for the Knicks : 1973. Their last final appearance was in 1999.
Both fanbases are massive/deep in numbers, rabid, loyal, passionate and knowledgeable- and both are starved for a championship title after more than 50 years of waiting .
Since 1990, in most of the years that the knicks advanced to the ECF, the Leafs advanced to the ECF themselves too in the same year .
In 1993, 1994, and 1999 : both the leafs and knicks reached their respective conference finals
In 2000 the knicks did it but not the leafs
Two years later, in 2002 the leafs did it but not the knicks
2025? Tonight, The New York Knicks eliminated the defending champions, the Boston Celtics by 38 points (final score was 119-81 for NY) and advanced to the ECF in front of their own crowd
Will the Leafs follow suit and do the same thing on Sunday night? Will the Leafs eliminate the defending champions, the panthers in a rout/ blowout ?