EASTERN QUARTER-FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 5:
#1 NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs #8 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Series tied 2-2
Game time: Friday April 30th 7:30pm at New Jersey
Back on home ice, the New Jersey Devils hope to take the upper hand in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series tonight in Game Five against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Devils won the series opener but lost Game Two at home before splitting two games in Pittsburgh. Bobby Holik set up three goals and Randy McKay and Sergei Brylin each had a goal and an assist as the Devils posted a 4-2 victory in Game Four on Tuesday.
The Devils had lost 11 straight playoff games before Tuesday in which Brodeur had allowed more than one goal. He won for only the fifth time in his last 15 postseason games.
Brodeur has not been spectacular in this series with an .877 save percentage. Pittsburgh's Tom Barrasso has been better with a .926 save percentage.
Penguins superstar star Jaromir Jagr has sat out the last three games with an injured right quadricep but is probable to return tonight. In Jagr's absence, Czech countryman Martin Straka leads the team with four goals and six points. Alexei Kovalev and Kip Miller each have four points.
Pittsburgh went 0-for-9 on the power play in the first two games of the series but has gone 3-for-10 in the last two contests.
Holik leads New Jersey with four points and Sergei Brylin and Petr Sykora each have a team-best two goals.
Game Six is Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
#2 OTTAWA SENATORS vs #7 BUFFALO SABRES
Buffalo wins 4-0
Game time: Buffalo advances to the next round
#3 CAROLINA HURRICANES vs #6 BOSTON BRUINS
Series tied 2-2
Game time: Friday April 30, 1999 7:30pm at Carolina
With their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series tied at two games apiece, the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes both look to gain the edge tonight in Game Five.
As seems to be the case throughout this year's NHL playoffs, there has been no home-ice advantage in this series with both teams splitting two games at home and on the road.
The Hurricanes had been 2-0-1 in Boston this season before the Bruins posted a 4-1 victory in Game Four on Wednesday. Joe Thornton and Dmitri Khristich each had two assists and Byron Dafoe had his best game of the series since recording a shutout in the opener with 22 saves. Dafoe has surrendered seven goals on 100 shots through four games for a .925 save percentage.
Center Jason Allison does not have a goal but leads Boston with four points, while Anson Carter, Ray Bourque and Thornton each have three points. The Bruins went 0-for-5 on the power play in the first two games before a 2-for-8 performance in the last two contests.
Boston has won three of four games in Carolina this season.
The Bruins need to find a way to slow down Hurricanes right wing Ray Sheppard, whose four goals trail only Detroit's Steve Yzerman for the league lead. Left wing Martin Gelinas is second with three points -- all assists.
Carolina has not gotten much production from its power play with the unit 1-for-15 thus far.
Hurricanes center Ron Francis has missed the last three games since suffering a sprained right ankle in the opener and may return tonight. The Bruins will be without right wing Landon Wilson due to a left shoulder injury. Wilson scored the game-winning goal on Wednesday.
Game Six is Sunday in Boston.
#4 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS vs #5 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Series tied 2-2
Game time: Friday April 30th, 1999 7pm at Toronto
The Philadelphia Flyers hope to carry the momentum from Wednesday's victory into tonight when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Five of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
The Flyers blanked the Maple Leafs in the series opener 3-0 before dropping consecutive 2-1 decisions. Defenseman Eric Desjardins scored the go-ahead power-play goal in the second period and added two assists in Philadelphia's 5-2 victory at home in Game Four.
Left wing John LeClair scored a pair of goals Wednesday after tallying once in the first three games. Desjardins and center Rod Brind'Amour lead the Flyers with four points apiece.
Philadelphia went 1-for-14 on the power play in the first three games but converted twice in five opportunities in Game Four. The Flyers held Toronto scoreless in 17 chances with the man advantage before the Leafs were 2-for-8 Wednesday.
Both goaltenders have been solid for their respective teams. Philadelphia's John Vanbiesbrouck has a .935 save percentage and a 1.51 goals-against average, while Curtis Joseph is at .938 and 2.02.
Center Steve Sullivan and defenseman Bryan Berard lead the Leafs with three points apiece, while captain Mats Sundin has been held to just one goal.
Game Six is Sunday at Philadelphia.