OTHL -- The second round of the Easter Conference was decided today as New Jersey beat Montreal and Florida won the game against Toronto. Both games where decided in overtime. Now the 2nd seeded New Jersey will take on the 3rd seeded Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The game between Montreal and New Jersey was a nasty and rough story with four injuries, two game misconducts and a couple of other penalties. However no powerplay goals where scored in this intense game. And it was Montreal that took the lead, Zigmund Palffy scored his second playoff goal five minutes into the second period. In the early goings of the third period, Jason Holland was forced out of the game after a highstick from Simon Gagne. The Devils top scorer was given an early shower for his highstick. 10 mintues into the same period New Jersey tied up the game when Pavel Kubina jumped up in the play and took care of a pass from Slava Kozlov. A goal that took the game to overtime.
And the first overtime period did not start well for Montreal, as Zigmund Palffy left the game with a undisclosed injury. Five minutes later the Devils suffered a blow to there defense as Alexei Zhitnik blocked a shot with his feet forcing him out of the game. And the bad lucked continued for New Jersey as Slava Kozlov took a elbow in the head from Sheldon Souray in the second overtime period. A elbow that earned Souray a game misconduct. Kozlov where also unable to continue to the game due to a injury. So now the two teams had 3 players less on the ice for the rest of the game. However, the game was decided just over 6 minutes later as Pavel Kubina became the big hero with his second goal for the night. The goal was scored early in the third overtime period, and it closed the book on Montreal's playoff run.
The game between Florida and Toronto was also decided in overtime. But in this game it was decided in the first overtime period. Up until the goal, it had been a game between Florida and Ed Belfour. Belfour showed that he is still one of the best goalies in the league as he made 37 saves and keept the game close for Toronto. But it was the Leafs that took the lead when Sergei Fedorov (3) scored halfway trough the opening period when Craig Conroy served a double minor for a elbow. A lead that lasted until 9:14 in the second period when Ed Jovanovski (1) tied up the game with his first goal this post-season. But the Leafs re-took the lead when Adam Foote (1) blasted home his first. The goal came 2 minutes after Jovanovski's goal.
And despite there massive disadvantage in shots, the Leafs hanged onto there lead until we had just 2 minutes left in regulation. And once again it was a defender getting the goal, and once again it was Ed Jovanovski (2) finding the net for Florida. Conroy and Deadmarsh picked up the helpers on the 2-2 goal. Jovanovski's second laso forced a overtime decision in the game. A decision that came after 7 minutes when Jerome Iginla (5) scored a powerplay goal as Andy Sutton had earned himself a five minute major and game misconduct for a highstick. Iginal's goal ended the Leafs playoff dreams, and also put an end to Brian Blake's era in Toronto as he now leave the league for other duties.
PLAYER(S) OF THE NIGHT: Ed Jovanovski (Florida), scored his first 2 goals in the playoff's. Ed Belfour (Toronto), keept the game between Florida and Toronto close with 37 saves. Pavel Kubina (New Jersey), scored both New Jersey's goals against Montreal, the second goal also decided the game in the third overtime.