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Maple Leafs force Flyers to crash land
Toronto, May 02: The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 to even their Eastern Conference play-off at 2-2.
Toronto, May 02: The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 to even their Eastern Conference play-off at 2-2.
Mats Sundin scored twice and Ed Belfour made 28 saves to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semi-final series at Air Canada Centre on Friday (April 30).
Darcy Tucker also scored for Toronto, which levelled the best-of-seven series at two games apiece after Toronto had lost twice in Philadelphia to open the set.
Simon Gagne scored the only goal for the Flyers, who will host Game 5 on Sunday afternoon. Robert Esche made 28 saves in a losing effort. The Maple Leafs fell behind by 1-0, but tallied three unanswered goals for the win. Gagne opened the scoring to give the Flyers an early lead, but Sundin answered for Toronto in the first period.
Philadelphia took advantage of a turnover after a faceoff in the circle to Belfour's left to score the game's first goal at 7:44. Sundin won the draw back to McCabe, but the Leafs defenseman fanned on his clearing attempt and Gagne collected the loose puck in front and beat the netminder with a quick wrist shot.
The Maple Leafs tied the game at 13:24 of the opening stanza. Tomas Kaberle sent a long pass to Gary Roberts at the Flyers' blue line to begin the play. Roberts moved into the zone along the left wing and dropped a pass to Sundin, who fired a shot that hit Ragnarsson in front of the net and deflected past Esche.
The Leafs failed to take advantage of three opportunities on the power play late in the opening frame and the teams went to the locker room tied at 1-1.
Sundin, who missed the first game of the series, scored with a strong individual effort 7:45 into the second period to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead.
The Leafs captain carried the puck into the Philadelphia zone on the right wing, cut to the front and backhanded a shot between the pads of Esche.
Toronto opened a two-goal lead early in the third period just one second after a penalty to Flyers defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson ended. Tucker, stationed in the slot, deflected a shot by Bryan McCabe from the point over the glove of Esche at 2:19 for the 3-1 advantage.
Philadelphia, which had just eight shots in the third period, failed to take advantage of a power play when Alexander Mogilny was whistled for boarding with 7:33 left in the contest.
Gagne was penalized for goaltender interference with 3:44 to play, virtually ending Philadelphia's chance of a comeback.
The Flyers failed to take advantage of a power play late in the second period with Toronto clinging to a one-goal lead. Sundin then had two opportunities to increase the Leafs' lead, including a breakaway in the final minute. The high- flying Swede went in alone on Esche, but the shot rang off the crossbar to the netminder's glove side.
Bureau Report
Simon Gagne scored the only goal for the Flyers, who will host Game 5 on Sunday afternoon. Robert Esche made 28 saves in a losing effort. The Maple Leafs fell behind by 1-0, but tallied three unanswered goals for the win. Gagne opened the scoring to give the Flyers an early lead, but Sundin answered for Toronto in the first period.
Philadelphia took advantage of a turnover after a faceoff in the circle to Belfour's left to score the game's first goal at 7:44. Sundin won the draw back to McCabe, but the Leafs defenseman fanned on his clearing attempt and Gagne collected the loose puck in front and beat the netminder with a quick wrist shot.
The Maple Leafs tied the game at 13:24 of the opening stanza. Tomas Kaberle sent a long pass to Gary Roberts at the Flyers' blue line to begin the play. Roberts moved into the zone along the left wing and dropped a pass to Sundin, who fired a shot that hit Ragnarsson in front of the net and deflected past Esche.
The Leafs failed to take advantage of three opportunities on the power play late in the opening frame and the teams went to the locker room tied at 1-1.
Sundin, who missed the first game of the series, scored with a strong individual effort 7:45 into the second period to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead.
The Leafs captain carried the puck into the Philadelphia zone on the right wing, cut to the front and backhanded a shot between the pads of Esche.
Toronto opened a two-goal lead early in the third period just one second after a penalty to Flyers defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson ended. Tucker, stationed in the slot, deflected a shot by Bryan McCabe from the point over the glove of Esche at 2:19 for the 3-1 advantage.
Philadelphia, which had just eight shots in the third period, failed to take advantage of a power play when Alexander Mogilny was whistled for boarding with 7:33 left in the contest.
Gagne was penalized for goaltender interference with 3:44 to play, virtually ending Philadelphia's chance of a comeback.
The Flyers failed to take advantage of a power play late in the second period with Toronto clinging to a one-goal lead. Sundin then had two opportunities to increase the Leafs' lead, including a breakaway in the final minute. The high- flying Swede went in alone on Esche, but the shot rang off the crossbar to the netminder's glove side.
Bureau Report