 The Leafs struggled early in the 1948 – 49 season having lost Apps and Nick Metz to retirement , and then Kennedy for a month and Cal Gardner for two months due to injuries . By the end of January , Toronto was only one point ahead of the last place New York Rangers who had even played two fewer games than Toronto . Kennedy 's return to the team in mid @-@ January provided the needed spark to pull the Leafs out of their prolonged slump . Although finishing the regular season with a losing record of 23 wins 25 losses and 12 ties , they were able to place fourth , which was the last position qualifying for the playoffs . However , in the first round of the playoffs they defeated Boston in five games . Kennedy had scored the game @-@ winning goal which put Toronto up 3 – 0 in games . Toronto then faced the first @-@ place Detroit Red Wings . During the season , Detroit General Manager Jack Adams said of the Red Wings , " This is the greatest team in my 22 seasons here . " However , Toronto swept the Red Wings in four straight games to win their third consecutive Stanley Cup . Kennedy finished the playoffs with two goals and six assists to lead the Leafs in points and was second only to Detroit 's Gordie Howe overall . 
