EASTERN QUARTER-FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 6:
#1 NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs #8 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
New Jersey leads 3-2
Game time: Sunday May 2nd, 1999 2pm at Pittsburgh
The New Jersey Devils can wrap up a berth in the Eastern Conference semifinals today if they can defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of their first-round playoff series.
Given a major scare after trailing two games to one, top-seeded New Jersey has won two straight, including Friday's 4-3 win to take the series lead. Randy McKay scored twice and has points in the last three games. Defenseman Scott Stevens scored for the second straight game.
The status of All-Star Jaromir Jagr is once again a concern for Pittsburgh. He has missed the last four games with a groin injury and is questionable for today.
One player that has been a thorn in the Devils side is Alexei Kovalev. He recorded three points in Friday's loss and has three goals and four assists over the last four games.
Both goaltenders have been less than spectacular in this series. The Devils' Martin Brodeur and the Penguins' Tom Barrasso have each allowed 13 goals so far, second worst in the league behind Guy Hebert of Anaheim.
Pittsburgh has been outshot 66-35 over the last two games and is in danger of being eliminated in the first round for the third straight season. The Penguins' last win in a playoff series came against the New York Rangers in the 1996 Eastern semifinals.
A Devils victory would put them in the second round against the Buffalo Sabres. If Pittsburgh wins, Game Seven would be Tuesday at the Meadowlands.
#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
Boston leads 3-2
Game time: Sunday May 2nd, 1999 7:30pm at Boston
The Boston Bruins look to wrap up their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at home tonight when they face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Six.
The Bruins entered the third period of Game Five on Friday trailing 2-0, but came back to stun the Hurricanes in double overtime, 4-3. Anson Carter scored the game-winner to put Boston ahead three games to two.
Ray Bourque has been a catalyst for the Bruins with a goal and five assists and is sixth all-time in playoff assists with 119. Jason Allison has a point in all five games.
Ron Francis returned on Friday from a after missing three games with a sprained ankle, but the Hurricanes will be looking for a lot more help if they want to keep their season alive. Ray Sheppard has five goals and an assist during the series.
Boston has the lead in this series thanks to its overwhelming play in the third period. The Bruins have outscored the Hurricanes 9-3.
Boston is attempting to win its first playoff series since defeating Montreal in the first round in 1994.
If Carolina should stave off elimination on the road, Game Seven will be back in Greensboro on Tuesday.
#4 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS vs #5 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Toronto leads 3-2
Game time: Sunday May 2nd, 1999 7:30pm at Philadelphia
The Toronto Maple Leafs attempt to win their first playoff series in five years tonight when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Six of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Yanic Perreault put a soft backhander past John Vanbiesbrouck 11:51 into overtime giving Toronto a 2-1 triumph on Friday for a three games to two lead. Dmitri Yushkevich tallied the first goal for the Leafs.
The Flyers held the Maple Leafs scoreless the first 118 minutes of this series, but find themselves one game from elimination.
Toronto has not won a playoff series since 1994 when it defeated San Jose in the Western Conference semifinals.
Eric Desjardins and Rod Brind'Amour each have four points to lead Philadelphia.
Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph is third in the playoffs with a .945 save percentage while Vanbiesbrouck is fourth at .937.
The second and third period will go a long way in determining a winner. The team that has lost all five games in this series has gone scoreless in the final 40 minutes of regulation.
Should the Flyers prevail, Game Seven would be Tuesday night in Toronto.