S9 CONFERENCE FINALS - GAME 5

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

6 v. 2 Final

Scoring Summary
1st Period
2:27LeClair 87 PPG (Oates 90, Brind Amour 89)
15:00Ricci 84 SHG (Unassisted)
16:04Stevens 91 PPG (Modano 92, Brind Amour 89)

2nd Period
0:38Ciccarelli 91 (Pronger 92, Selanne 94)
6:00Verbeek 87 PPG (Selanne 94, Babych 84)

3rd Period
8:47Eriksson 82 (Unassisted)
12:44Afinogenov 84 (Odelein 80, Gelinas 83)
18:36Verbeek 87 (Eriksson 82, Ciccarelli 91)

Penalty Summary
1st Period
1:46Beauchemin 82 Hooking (Minor)
4:48Skrastins 80 Slashing (Minor)
7:51Norstrom 80 Hooking (Minor)
12:48Ciccarelli 91 High-Sticking (Double Minor)

2nd Period
5:43Recchi 90 Delay of Game (Minor)

3rd Period
No Penalties

WINS SERIES 4-1

---

5 v. 4 Final (OT1)

Scoring Summary
1st Period
1:17Lemieux 97 (Lemieux 90, Robitaille 92)
5:42Holzinger 81 (Konowalchuk 83, Granato 86)
7:42Sweeney 84 (Hull 94, Guerin 89)
10:48Weinrich 82 (Berard 87, Hull 94)
12:46Holzinger 81 (Norton 79)

2nd Period
10:30Lemieux 97 (Lemieux 90, Corson 85)

3rd Period
0:34Lemieux 97 (Unassisted)
14:21Lemieux 90 PPG (MacInnis 93, Robitaille 92)

OT
3:20Zalapski 85 (Rucinsky 86, Ribeiro 87)

Penalty Summary
1st Period
No Penalties

2nd Period
0:30Weinrich 82 High-Sticking (Minor)

3rd Period
14:01Weinrich 82 Holding (Minor)
16:47Audette 86 Roughing (Minor)

OT
No Penalties

LEADS SERIES 3-2

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

After the first period, Blues fans were feeling good about themselves. Up 2-1 on the road, 3 powerplays leading to 2 powerplay goals (and 1 shorthanded against), but otherwise in control of the game. Then the 2nd Period happened. Chicago limited the Blues to just 3 shots, scored once to tie it up, and an unfortunate clearing play by Recchi put the puck over the glass. This opening gave Verbeek all that he needed to lock down the game winning goal. The third period brought out a defeated Blues team down 3-1 in the series and 3-2 in the game. They looked like they knew the game was over before the period even began. Hawks outshot the Blues 14-7 in the final frame, showing that the gas tank finally ran empty for St. Louis, and a punishing 3 more goals nailed the coffin shut tight. Blackhawks are the first team advancing to the Cup Finals.

The Lemieux Brothers were all cylinders firing in this game. Mario with the hat trick, Claude with a goal and two assists, Robitaille complimented the line to tally a total of 8 points for the trio on the night. And this all came after the Pens were hammered 4-1 in the first period. A slow storm back was brewing after Mario opened the scoring. He continued that charge in the 2nd and 3rd Period putting the team on his back once again to claw within 1 goal. From there, Claude tied it up with just over 5 minutes to go, and unexpected hero Zarley Zalapski fired home the overtime winner to put the Islanders on the brink of elimination.

[Ottawa Senators]

Good luck in the finals XX - Hoofhearted - XX

I did my best but you're looking unstoppable

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

The sheer depth on Chicago is seriously surprising.