EASTERN QUARTER-FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 7:
#1 NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs #8 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Series tied 3-3
Game time: Tuesday May 4th, 1999 7:30pm at New Jersey
The New Jersey Devils hope to avoid another first-round disappointment tonight when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
The Devils could not finish off the Penguins on the road Sunday thanks to the triumphant return of Jaromir Jagr. After missing four games with a persistent groin injury, Jagr scored 8:59 into overtime after tying the game with 2:12 left in the third period of Sunday's 3-2 win over the Devils in Game Six.
New Jersey would like to avoid working overtime tonight. The Devils have lost six straight playoff overtime games and are 5-14 all-time in such contests. New Jersey is winless in overtime since May 26, 1995, when it beat the Penguins 2-1 in Game Four of the Eastern Conference semifinals en route to the Stanley Cup.
The Devils also were the top seed last season but were stunned by eighth-seeded Ottawa in the opening round. New Jersey is 2-4 all-time in Game Sevens.
After going 0-for-9 on the power play in the first two games of the series, the Devils are 5-for-15 with the man advantage. Pittburgh is 4-for-25 on the power play in the series.
Rugged center Bobby Holik has yet to score a goal in the series but is New Jersey's leading scorer with seven points. Randy McKay and Sergei Brylin are tied with five points apiece.
Right wing Alexei Kovalev leads the Penguins with nine points and Martin Straka has five goals and eight points.
Should the Devils win, they would face Buffalo in the conference semifinals. If the Penguins win, they would face Toronto.
#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 wins 4-2
Game time: Boston advances to the next round
#4 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS vs #5 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Toronto wins 4-2
Game time: Toronto advances to the next round