EASTERN FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 4:
#4 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS vs #7 BUFFALO SABRES
Buffalo leads 2-1
Game time: Saturday May 29th, 1999 7:30pm at Buffalo
With Dominik Hasek back, the Buffalo Sabres look to remain perfect on home ice and put a stranglehold on the Eastern Conference finals tonight in Game Four against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Hasek missed the first two games of this series with a groin injury but returned Thursday in Game Three. "The Dominator" made 24 saves, including all 12 in the final period to lead Buffalo to a 4-2 victory and a two games to one lead.
The Sabres have won all six home games in these playoffs, outscoring opponents, 20-9. Miroslav Satan, who scored 40 goals during the regular season, returned from a nine-game absence due to a foot injury and added a goal and assist.
Buffalo has scored a power-play goal in 13 straight games, matching the second-longest streak in playoff history. The 1981 New York Islanders and 1989 Philadelphia Flyers tallied in 13 straight. The 1988 Edmonton Oilers hold the record with power-play goals in 16 consecutive games.
Another plus for the Sabres is the resurgence of forwards Stu Barnes and Curtis Brown. After he was held to just one assist in the first 10 postseason games, Barnes has collected four goals and one assist in his last three contests. Brown has four goals in his last five contests and leads the team with six tallies.
Buffalo is is 9-0 in these playoffs when captain Michael Peca records a point.
Toronto's top line of Mats Sundin, Steve Thomas and Lonny Bohonos and left wing Sergei Berezin have carried much of the team's offense but all were held witthout a point in Game Three.
The series moves back to Toronto for Game Five on Monday.