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Yanic Perreault, right, scored twice in the series clincher.
(CP Photo)
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Maple Leafs sweep Senators
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have waited until the last minute to make the playoffs, but wasted little time advancing in them. Proving themselves a team built for the playoffs, the Maple Leafs swept aside the heavily-favoured Ottawa Senators in four straight games, including a convincing 3-1 triumph in Game 4 at the Air Canada Centre.
FULL STORY
THE
SERIES:
GAME 1:Leafs stun Senators in OT
GAME 2:Leafs shut out Senators again
GAME 3:Cross puts Leafs in command
GAME 4:Maple Leafs sweep Senators
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Yanic Perreault - Perreault scored his first two
goals of the playoffs, including the series clincher,
both on wicked wristshots under the crossbar to Patrick
Lalime's glove side. It was sweet revenge for the slick
centre, who tore his knee in Game 1 against Ottawa last
year. |
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 Chris
Phillips - Phillips scored his first goal of the series
on his first shift after sitting out the first three games
with a shoulder injury. Though victimized on Bryan McCabe's
goal, Phillips could not be faulted as he made a valiant,
albeit failed effort to break up the 2-on-1 rush. |
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Playoff record:
Home: 2-0
Road:
2-0
Power play: 3 for 13 (23.1 %)
Penalty
killing: 16 of 16 (100 %)
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Playoff record:
Home: 0-2
Road: 0-2
Power play: 0 for 16 (0 %)
Penalty killing:
10 of 13 (76.9 %)
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Ricard Persson (concussion).
Out indefinitely.
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| Ranked
7th in the East
Record: 37-29-11-5
90 points
232 GF 207 GA |
The season started so promising for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With signing of Gary Roberts and Shayne Corson, the Leafs
made it clear that they were a different, more physical club
than the one that lost to New Jersey in the second round of
the playoffs last year.
The added-toughness seemed to pay early dividends as the Leafs
battled the Sens early for top spot in the Eastern Conference,
claiming first place in early December.
It looked like the Leafs were going to easily claim a playoff
spot and might improve on the 100-point season they achieved
last year.
Then, something happened.
The wheels fell off the wagon for the Maple Leafs just after
the New Year.
As rumours of Eric Lindros heading to Toronto in the near
future filled the locker room, the Leafs played poorly in
the second half of the season. It wasn't until their win over
Chicago in the 81st game did Toronto clinch a playoff spot.
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| Ranked
2nd in the East
Record: 48-21-9-4
109 points
274 GF 205 GA |
After being the laughingstock of the league for a number of
years, the Ottawa Senators have turned into the NHL's model
franchise.
This season was another example of the depth and the balance
that is on the Senators lineup, as Ottawa posted its best
season in franchise history with 109 points.
Although the Sens started the year in October with a huge
question mark surrounding new starting goaltender Patrick
Lalime, Ottawa found new life when their top centre and last
year's Public Enemy No.1, Alexei Yashin, decided to end his
holdout and complete the final year of his contract.
It seemed that every player in Ottawa's lineup contributed
in some way. Marian Hossa had a breakout season, Daniel Alfredsson
scored 70 points, Shawn McEachern has the best year of his
career, and Radek Bonk was on his way to a 65-point season
before he broke his thumb.
Yashin helped erase memories of an ugly dispute with Sens
management last season, leading the team in scoring with 40
goals and 88 points.
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losing to Toronto in the first round of the playoffs last season,
it's clear that the Sens are looking for revenge.
While the Sens are no doubt pleased about their regular-season
performance this year, nothing but a series win over the Leafs
will wipe out bad memories of being eliminated at the hands
of Toronto in six games.
If this season's regular season match-up is any indication,
the Sens definitely have the advantage over the Leafs in Battle
of Ontario II.
With Alexei Yashin back in the lineup, the Sens suffocated
the Leafs with their depth and ability to play sound defence.
It seemed that every time the Leafs managed to score a goal
or tried to gain some sort of momentum, the Sens would reply
with a goal of their own or netminder Patrick Lalime would
make a brilliant save to ignite his club.
In the last game of the season, the Sens managed to post a
win over the Leafs despite missing nine players from their
lineup.
Despite the injury woes that have hit the Sens, coach Jacques
Martin said that he expects all of his players will be ready
for Game 1, except Radek Bonk.
Ottawa
won series 5-0-0
Oct.
14, 2000: Ottawa 4 @ Toronto 0
Oct. 31, 2000: Toronto 3 @ Ottawa 4
Nov. 25, 2000: Ottawa 4 @ Toronto 2
March 4, 2001: Ottawa 3 @ Toronto 2 (OT)
April 7, 2001: Toronto 3 @ Ottawa 5
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Harry Neale
The Leafs stumbled into the
playoffs, and while there's some hope that their corps of
veterans will pick up the pace for the playoffs, doesn't every
team do that? The big hope for this "legitimate underdog" is
Curtis Joseph, who has been known to steal a series or two.
But the Senators are a better team than last year's Round 1 version.
They have speed, a powerful offence, lots of confidence, and they
also boast the services of Alexei Yashin and Wade Redden - two players
they didn't have in last year's Cup lineup. "There are very few,
if any, reasons to think that Toronto is going to win."
Ottawa in 5 | |
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