EASTERN QUARTER-FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 3:
#1 NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs #8 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Series tied 1-1
Game time: Sunday April 25th, 1999 2pm at Pittsburgh
Even though they won Saturday without superstar Jaromir Jagr, the Pittsburgh Penguins hope to have him back in the lineup today when they host the New Jersey Devils in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
With Jagr sidelined with a groin injury, the Penguins responded with an inspired effort that resulted in a 4-1 victory over the Devils in Game Two, evening the series at one game apiece.
It seems as though Jagr will be a gametime decision today. "After the last game it was hurt," he said. "It's just a muscle. If I could play a little, I would have played. I don't know if I'm coming back or not (Sunday)."
Pittsburgh did get back right wing Alexei Kovalev, who missed Game One with a wrist injury. Kovalev and center Martin Straka each had a goal and one assist for the Penguins, who killed all five New Jersey power plays.
Pittsburgh is 0-for-9 on the power play in the two games but has killed all nine of the Devils' power-play chances.
New Jersey outshot the Penguins 29-17 overall, but needed a 14-3 advantage in the third period for that total.
The Devils have lost their last 10 playoff games when goaltender Martin Brodeur has allowed more than one goal. Center Petr Sykora, who scored two goals in New Jersey's 3-1 victory in Game One, was held to one shot in Saturday's loss.
After playing on back-to-back days, the teams have Monday off with Game Four set for Tuesday.
#2 OTTAWA SENATORS vs #7 BUFFALO SABRES
Buffalo leads 2-0
Game time: Sunday April 25th, 1999 6:30pm at Buffalo
Trailing two games to none and with the next two games on the road, the Ottawa Senators face a virtual must-win situation tonight in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Buffalo Sabres.
It obviously does not mean much once the playoffs begin that the Sabres finished 12 points behind the Senators during the regular season and failed to beat the Northeast Division champs in five meetings this season (0-1-4).
Again, Buffalo rode the stellar goaltending of Dominik Hasek to a pair of wins in Ottawa. Hasek made 40 saves in a 2-1 victory in the series opener and turned aside 45 shots in Friday's 3-2 double overtime victory. "The Dominator" has posted a .966 save percentage in the first two games.
The scoring has been balanced for the Sabres. Left wing Miroslav Satan leads the team with two goals and is tied with Joe Juneau and captain Michael Peca for the club lead with three points.
The Senators are still waiting for captain and their best player Alexei Yashin to break into the scoring column. Yashin, who had 44 goals and 94 points in the regular season, has 11 shots on goal through two games but no points.
It should be interesting to see which half of his goaltending tandem Ottawa coach Jacques Martin starts tonight. Ron Tugnutt got the nod in the opener and allowed two goals on 17 shots. Damian Rhodes stopped 39 of 42 shots in Game Two.
Buffalo is 2-for-10 on the power play in the series, while Ottawa is 3-for-18. The Senators have yet to score playing 5-on-5 in the series.
Game Four is Tuesday in Buffalo.
#3 CAROLINA HURRICANES vs #6 BOSTON BRUINS
Series tied 1-1
Game time: Monday April 26th, 1999 7:30pm at Boston
One game after their first playoff triumph, the Carolina Hurricanes hope to maintain the momentum tonight when they visit the Boston Bruins in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Ray Sheppard scored twice, including the game-winner with just under three minutes left in overtime, giving Carolina a 3-2 triumph on Saturday to even the series. During the regular season, Sheppard became the first player in NHL history to score 20 goals with six different teams.
What made the victory even more impressive is the Hurricanes played the third period and overtime with just four defensemen. Marek Malik left in the first period with a charley horse and Nolan Pratt left after the second with a strained groin. Their status for tonight is unknown.
Also unknown is the status of veteran center Ron Francis, who suffered a sprained right ankle in Game One and sat out on Saturday.
The FleetCenter has not been kind to the Bruins in postseason. Boston has lost three straight and four of its five contests there since moving across the street from Boston Garden. The Bruins have dropped 10 of their last 11 home playoff games dating back to 1994.
Neither goaltender has been forced to work that hard in the first two series. Carolina's Arturs Irbe has been called upon to make just 49 saves in the two games while Vezina Trophy candidate Byron Dafoe has stopped 46 shots for Boston.
Jason Allison is the lone Bruin with more than one point, collecting two assists in the two games.
Both teams are still looking for their first power-play goal in the series. Carolina has been blanked in eight opportunities while Boston is without a goal in five chances.
Game Four is Wednesday in Boston.
#4 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS vs #5 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Series tied 1-1
Game time: Monday April 26th, 1999 7:30pm at Philadelphia
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who went the first 118 minutes of this series without a goal, look to continue their heroics from Saturday when they battle the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals tonight.
Steve Thomas scored Toronto's first goal of the postseason at 18:01 of the third period and captain Mats Sundin tallied the game-winner 56 seconds later en route to a 2-1 victory.
Thomas got involved earlier in the game when he hit Philadelphia defenseman Eric Desjardins in the head against the boards, but was not penalized drawing the Flyers' ire.
"I know (Flyers general manager) Bobby Clarke said that he thought it was a suspendable hit," Flyers coach Roger Neilson said. "I really didn't see enough of it to say that, but it was certainly a penalty. Letting one go like that can really hurt somebody."
Toronto is 0-for-13 on the power play in the series while Philadelphia is 1-for-9. No player in this series has more than one point.
Flyers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck has enjoyed an outstanding series despite the loss in Game Two. He has a .957 save percentage.
Philadelphia has dropped four of its last five playoff games at the First Union Center dating back to the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals.
Game Four is Wednesday in Philadelphia.