EASTERN SEMI-FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 4:
#4 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS vs #8 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Pittsburgh leads 2-1
Game time: Thursday May 13th, 1999 7:30pm at Pittsburgh
Coming off a disappointing one-goal loss in Game Three, the Toronto Maple Leafs hope to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight.
Jaromir Jagr scored the tying goal midway through the third period and assisted on Jiri Slegr's game-winner 1:40 later as the Penguins rallied for a 4-3 victory in Game Three.
Despite a nagging groin injury, Jagr finished with three points, giving him nine in six playoff games. Center Martin Straka leads Pittsburgh with six goals and 13 points.
The Penguins have won three of four home playoff games while the Maple Leafs have split four road contests.
Toronto is led by captain Mats Sundin, who has six points. Center Steve Sullivan is tied for third on the team with four points but missed Game Two with back spasms.
Pittsburgh also was without a key player due to back spasms -- left wing German Titov, who has three goals and five assists in nine games.
The Leafs are 1-for-11 on the power play against the Penguins and 6-for-45 overall in the playoffs. Pittsburgh is 3-for-12 with the man advantage in this series and 7-for-38 in the postseason.
The series moves back to Toronto for Game Five on Saturday.
#6 BOSTON BRUINS vs #7 BUFFALO SABRES
Buffalo leads 2-1
Game time: Friday May 14th, 1999 7:30pm at Buffalo
The Buffalo Sabres try to continue their home mastery over the Boston Bruins tonight and take a commanding three games to one lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Despite getting held without a shot for the final 18:23 of the first period, Buffalo came alive in the third, getting goals from Rhett Warrener and Dixon Ward en route to a 3-2 victory Wednesday.
The Sabres have won five straight home games against Boston, dating to the regular season. They are 3-0 at home in the playoffs, allowing just five goals.
Dominik Hasek was rarely tested in Game Three. "The Dominator" is 6-1 with a .948 save percentage in the postseason and shook off a deep bruise above his right knee.
A foot injury will sideline Sabres leading scorer Miroslav Satan for the fifth straight game while forward Joe Juneau is doubtful with a charley horse that limited him to one shift in Game Three.
In addition, defenseman James Patrick is banged up and Darryl Shannon, who topped the team in plus-minus during the regular season but has been in the doghouse for better than a month, could get back into the lineup.
The Sabres have scored one power-play goal in all seven playoff games and are 7-for-32 overall in the playoffs. Captain Michael Peca has points in six of seven postseason games and leads Buffalo with eight points.
Back spasms sidelined Bruins right wing Sergei Samsonov on Wednesday, but he is probable to return tonight. But defenseman Don Sweeney has the same ailment and is doubtful. His absence would push veteran Grant Ledyard into the lineup for his second game of the postseason.
Boston is led by captain Ray Bourque and centers Joe Thornton and Jason Allison, all with eight points. Left wing Anson Carter has a team-best four goals.
Since going 0-for-5 on the power play in the first two games of the playoffs against Carolina, the Bruins are 8-for-37 in the last seven contests.
The series moves back to Boston for Game Five on Sunday afternoon.