TORONTO -- After being pummeled by the Detroit Red Wings Sunday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs were pelted with a humiliating shower of debris by their own fans.
Toronto, which stumbled into the playoffs with the dubious distinction of being the team with the worst record in NHL history to make it into postseason play, lost to Detroit 8-0 to fall behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven Norris Division semifinal.
Disgusted with their team's effort Toronto fans threw sweaters, pucks, hats, penants, assorted debris and during the closing moments of Sunday's game turning Maple Leaf Gardens one of the most honored hockey shrines into a garbage dump.
Several times during the third period the contest was delayed, twice for more than five minutes, while debris was removed.
At the buzzer the Toronto players left the bench and huddled around netminder Ken Wregget under a barage of boos and garbage.
'I felt humiliated,' Toronto defenseman Todd Gill said. 'If you guys (the media) all got on a rink and they all started throwing things at you how would you feel?
'They can boo all they want but once they start throwing things...'
Several members of the Maple Leafs stated they were concerned for their safety because of the flying debris and while they received some sympathy from the Red Wings, their opponents remained unconcerned.
'I figured I wasn't going to worry until they threw a guy out on the ice,' Bob Probert said.
Not even Glen Hanlon who faced 21 shots while recording the shutout could salvage any pleasure by the Red Wings one-sided victory.
'We compete against them but you have to feel sorry for them,' said Hanlon, who will get the start in Game 5 when the series shifts back to Detroit Tuesday. 'No athlete should have to be subjected to that type of treatment.'
According to Detroit coach Jacques Demers the Maple Leafs played right into his teams hand and was surprised at Toronto's attempts to intimidate his club in the early going.
'They came out at us, they crosss-checked us, one guy was speared and it resulted in two power play goals and a power play goal turned out to be the winner,' continued Demers. 'It's been said by the media, it's been said by us, by everybody, don't get behind on the Detroit Red Wings.
'Three times we been up 2-0 and three times we've won the game so if they want to come out like that, that's fine.
Adam Oates at 9:33 and Dave Barr at 14:39 each converted power play opportunities to give Detroit a 2-0 first period lead.
Gerard Gallant upped the Detroit lead to 3-0 at 12:06 in the second which was followed by John Chabot's marker at 15:15. Gallant rounded out the second frame scoring at 17:11.
The Red Wings then scored three times in 1:52 early in the third to put the game away.
Bob Probert began the splurge at 3:16 followed by Jim Nill at 4:42 and Brent Ashton at 5:08.
