OTHL -- In the first game between Buffalo and New Jersey, Buffalo won the shots while New Jersey scored more goals and won the game. Tonight in New Jersey, it was the other way around. New Jersey won the shots 32 to 27, but Buffalo won the game 3-1 after some great goaltending from Jean Sebastian Giguere. But it was the Devils and Rico Fata (2) who scored first in the game. Fata's goal was scored after five minutes, and the goal came while New Jersey where a man up as Dave Scatchard served a minor for unsportsmanlike-conduct. But the lead only lasted five minutes before Jochen Hecht (2) found the net behind Martin Brodeur with a sweet wrist shot from the right face off circle. Morrow and Lidström picked up the helpers on Hecht's game tying goal. And Hecht was really on his game tonight, in the second period he took his team into the lead when he scored his second goal for the night. This time, Daniel Briere and Jay McKee assisted on the goal from Buffalo's german winger. Buffalo hanged onto there 2-1 lead in the second period, despite having to kill four penalty kill situations.
And the situation continued in the third period. Buffalo took some undisiplined penalties, but keept the net free from pucks, and where able to score a goal by themselfs. However, this time it was Chris Drury scoring insted of Hecht. But Jochen Hecht picked up his 3rd point tonight as he did make the setup on Drury's 3-1 goal. The goal came on a counter attack after some heavy pressure from New Jersey. And despite going down by 2 goals, New Jersey where able to keep the pressure up, but Giguere where stellar in the last two periods where he made 24 saves. Thanks to the win, Buffalo tied the series as they now get to play two home games in the HSBC Arena.
Montreal continues to surprise the Boston Bruins. Tonight the Habs took game two to overtime, where they won it thanks to a goal from Marco Sturm. The game featured a nice chunk of penalties, witch both teams used to there advantage. Montreal where 2 for 5 while Boston where 2 for 7 on there powerplay tonight. The two teams shared the goal scoring in the first period, as Ian Laperriere (1) scored for Montreal, and Philippe Boucher (1) scored for the home team. Boucher's goal was scored while Ladislav Nagy where in the box. The first period featured solid goaltending from both Miikka Kiprusoff and Jose Theodore. But the second period, featured lack of solid goaltending from both goalies. Scott Walker (1) started the period with a goal after just 25 seconds, giving Boston the lead for the first time tonight. But Modano and Montreal drew even when Modano scored his first playoff goal, the goal was a powerplay goal. And Montreal re-took the lead when Pavol Demitra (1) scored after 13 minutes.
It now looked like Montreal where going to run away with the game, but Joe Thornton (1) scored to tie it up and kill the Habs momentum. However, before the period ended, Montreal scored again to get into the lead once again. The goal was scored by Ladislav Nagy (1) and assisted by Demitra and Palffy. In the third period, it looked like Montreal decided to give Boston a chance to tie up the game, as both Zednik and Taylor took penalties early in the period. Zednik was sent to the box for kicking, for witch he recived a major. While Taylor took a roughing minor two minutes later. And Boston managed to use the 5 on 3 to there advantage as Jason Blake (1) scored on a rebound after Sergei Gonchar had fired a shot on Theodore. And as no more goals where scored in the game, we got a overtime. An overtime that lasted only 2 minutes and 15 seconds as the Habs cashed in on a powerplay as Bryan Berard was sent to the box after just 29 seconds. Marco Sturm won the game with his first goal in the playoffs. Giving the Habs a solid 2-0 lead after the first two away games in Boston. The series now continues up on Montreal, where the Bruins need to win at least one game.
Pittsburgh suffered a tough loss in the first game against Florida. The Panthers took a comfirtable 5-1 win after some impressive team play. But in game two, it was the Penguins that showed off some impressive play. Saku Koivu found Vinny Prospal (1) with the puck after just two minutes and Prospal scored with a easy backhander. And while Alexander Frolov tied up the game halfway through the period with his 3rd goal in this years playoff. It was the Penguins period, as they showed off when they scored twice in just 10 seconds. Miroslav Satan (1) and Kimmo Timonen (1) where the two scorers that gave Pittsburgh a nice two goal lead after the first period. A lead that lasted until the dying seconds of the middle period. With 24 seconds left ot play, Craig Conroy (1) gave Florida some hope for the third period as he knocked home the goal that cut the visitors lead in half.
And now Florida where on the go, as they showed by scoring a minute into the third period. Doug Weight one-timed home a pass from Mathieu Schneider that meant that with almost 19 minutes to play, the game was tied. But it only stayed tied for about a minute, as Darius Kasparaitis walked in and blasted home a rare goalat the 2:43 mark. Putting the visitors into the lead again. And the lead was extended as Marc Savard (2) and Saku Koivu (1) scored one each before the period, and the game, was over. The series is now tied at one.
Toronto where hailed as one of the top contenders for the cup earlier in the season, but after a late season dip in form, they feel off many experts radar. However, thanks to a 4-3 win tonight the Leafs are up 2-0 against the Flyers as the series now heads to Toronto for two games in the ACC. Both game one and tonights game, have been decided by one goal. In the first game the game was decided in overtime. While tonights game was decided in regulation. Marty Turco who had to leave game one due to an incident with Adam Foote. Was back in net for the Flyers. And Turco had to pick the puck out of the net after 7 minutes played in the first period. Wes Walz, the Leafs premier defensive center, scored his first goal in the playoffs, Darcy Tucker the Leafs premier pest assisted on the goal.
In the middle period we got to see two goals, one for each team. And we also got to see a not so nice incident between Petr Sykora and Brian Gionta. The two goals where scored by Flyers Kostopoulos (1) and the Leafs Ponikarovsky (1). And they both game within five minutes halfway through the period. The incident between Gionta and Sykora took place in the last two minutes of the period. It all started when Sykora boarded Gionta with just over three minutes to play. A hit that handed Sykora a penalty, and some harsh words from the Flyers fans, and players. And when Sykora re-joined the action, Gionta decided to have a little word with Sykora. So Gionta took a b-line across the ice and began to talk to Sykora, trying to get him to drop the gloves. Sykora declined so insted of a fight, Gionta headbutted Sykora in the face. Sykora feel to the ice so bad that he injured his foot, and had to be helped of the ice. Gionta on the other hand, was served with a game misconduct for his head-butt on Sykora. The referees where able to calm the situation down before it really got out of hand, and play resumed.
The third period featured four goals, two a pice. Nathan Dempsey (1) and Milan Hejduk (1) scored the home teams goals while Gary Roberts (2) and Petr Nedved (1) scored for the visiting Leafs. But after the game, the most talk did not center around the scoreline, but around the two incidents in the second period between Sykora and Gionta. The Leafs claimed that they would hand in a tape to review on Gionta's head-butt on Sykora. While the Flyers did not mention anything about Sykora's boarding.
PLAYER OF THE NIGHT: Jochen Hecht (Buffalo) was involved in all three Buffalo goals tonight, as Buffalo won 3-1 against New Jersey.