Joseph's 31 saves the difference for Toronto
TORONTO (AP) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs limped into the second round of the playoffs. At least they'll have the extra home game against Ottawa.
Judging by their seven-game series with the New York Islanders, the Leafs may need it.
Alexander Mogilny scored twice as the Maple Leafs beat the Islanders 4-2 Tuesday night to win their Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series 4-3. Toronto won all four home games despite missing captain Mats Sundin (broken left wrist) for most of the series. The Leafs also were without Shayne Corson, who was suspended for Game 7.
"I can honestly say I've never been prouder," Toronto's Tie Domi said. "We've been through a lot of adversity and we didn't make any excuses. Everybody wrote us off when we lost our leader."
The Maple Leafs now meet provincial rival Ottawa, which eliminated Philadelphia in five games. The series begins here Thursday night.
Mogilny gave Toronto a 2-1 lead in the second period and scored his fourth goal of the playoffs on an empty-netter with 40 seconds left.
"We never quit," Mogilny said. "Everybody stepped up in different games and in different times. Cujo was huge for us throughout the series."
Toronto's Curtis Joseph made 31 saves, with several spectacular stops in the waning moments.
"We didn't play very well on the road," Joseph said. "They played exceptionally well at home. It was a battle. Thank goodness we had home-ice advantage."
Alexei Yashin and Kip Miller scored for the Islanders, who lost captain Michael Peca (torn knee ligaments) and defenseman Kenny Jonsson (concussion) in Game 5 on controversial body checks.
New York's Dave Scatchard said it was the dirtiest series he's been a part of.
"Intensity brings that out, I guess. It's unfortunate, but it was pretty intense hockey, that's for sure," Scatchard said.
New York, making its first playoff appearance in eight years, lost the first two games in Toronto before winning back-to-back games on Long Island. The Maple Leafs won the fifth game in Toronto, during which Gary Roberts checked Jonsson from behind into the glass and Darcy Tucker injured Peca with a hip check.
Emotionally charged by those incidents, the Islanders won a fight-filled Game 6.
There was no fighting and far less violence in Game 7 as players didn't want to cost their team the series with a dumb penalty.
"Both teams were trying to be smart," Roberts said. "It was a tough game for the enforcers to play."
Roberts and Travis Green also scored for the Maple Leafs, who won despite also missing regulars Mikael Renberg (strained hamstring) and Dmitry Yushkevich (blood clot).
"We're obviously bandaged together at his point," Roberts said. "Ottawa has had some days off. They had a great series and they are going to be fresh and hungry."
Yashin, who didn't have Corson shadowing him, gave New York a 1-0 lead on the power play early in the first. Adrian Aucoin made a centering pass to Yashin, who fired a high shot past Joseph for his third goal of the postseason.
Roberts tied it later in the first after skating around a defenseman and crashing the net. Goalie Chris Osgood was down on the ice for a few minutes, appearing to twist his leg on the play.
With Joseph out of the net on a delayed penalty against New York, Darcy Tucker made a centering pass to Mogilny, who tipped the puck to Robert Reichel. He then passed back to Mogilny, whose one-timer beat Osgood.
Green's high wrist gave Toronto a 3-1 lead entering the third period. Miller narrowed it to 3-2 with a high wrist shot that beat Joseph at 4:24 of the third.
Game notes
Fans cheered the American national anthem. Fans in Nassau Coliseum booed "O Canada" before Game 6. ... Toronto's Paul Healey didn't play in the first period after receiving a roughing penalty that led to Yashin's power-play goal. ... New York forward Brad Isbister missed his fourth consecutive game with a sprained wrist. ... Wayne Gretzky was in attendance, as was Antonio Davis of the Toronto Raptors. ... Fans cheered when it was announced Jonsson and Peca weren't in the lineup.
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Mats
Ich werde keinerlei Prognosen, den Ausgang der nächsten Saison betreffend, abgeben!
AC/DC rules!