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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – So much for the rumors about Curtis
Joseph having a sore right hand. Hot hand is more appropriate.
Joseph stopped 32 shots and the Toronto Maple Leafs showed their
new playoff look is for real, beating the New Jersey Devils 2-0 on
Thursday night in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinal.
|  | | Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph makes one of his 10 third-period saves on New Jersey's Patrik Elias on Thursday. |
Joseph's third shutout of the playoffs and 12th of his career
came after days of speculation about his right hand. He didn't use
it much in practice all week, sparking rumors that it was injured.
"Whoever made that up is full of it," Devils center Jason
Arnott said with more than a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Joseph, who would not comment on his hand in recent days, just
smiled when asked if it was safe to say that his hand didn't bother
him.
"No comment," he said again.
"Hey, this guy is a great goalie," Devils center Bobby Holik
said. "One of the top three or four in the league. We just didn't
create enough traffic and weren't determined enough and willing to
pay the price. When he sees the puck, he plays like he did
tonight."
Nikolai Antropov and former Devils forward Steve Thomas scored to
provide the support for Joseph, and Toronto's penalty killers
blanked New Jersey on eight extra-man chances in getting a little
revenge for a miserable six-shot performance in being eliminated in
Game 6 last year.
The Maple Leafs made some major changes after losing that
series, but Joseph wasn't one of them.
Joseph kept the Maple Leafs in the Devils' series last year,
allowed only three goals in a first-round sweep of Ottawa and he
was just as dominant in the opener of this best-of-seven series.
"Everybody is committed to playing good defense," Joseph said.
"Our penalty killing is tremendous. We had a lot of penalties
tonight. That was the story of the game."
Once Antropov and Thomas scored in about a six-minute span in
the second period, the only question was whether Joseph would get
the shutout against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Devils defenseman Brian Rafalski and Scott Niedermayer had good
chances in the final minutes, but Joseph was always in the right
spot. On the ones he was out of place, the puck failed to find the
net.
"This was a regular game for him," Maple Leafs captain Mats
Sundin said. "He's been excellent in the regular season and the
start of the playoffs."
Game 2 also will be played at the Continental Airlines Arena on
Saturday before the series shifts to Toronto for two games.
Antropov, who missed the Devils' playoff series last year with a
knee injury, put Toronto ahead at 3:16, just seven seconds after an
interference penalty to New Jersey's Jason Arnott expired.
Sergei Berezin carried the puck into the Devils' zone, only to
have the puck checked off his stick by defenseman Sean O'Donnell.
It went straight to Antropov, who beat Martin Brodeur from between
the circles. Brodeur faced 17 shots, including one in the third
period.
"My defenseman got caught in no man's land and I never saw
it," Brodeur said.
Toronto, which had only three power plays, converted on its last
one, with the aid of a couple of lucky bounces.
With Holik off for tripping, Thomas sent a pass from behind the
Devils' net to Sundin on the left boards. He sent the puck toward
the net. The puck hit off the skate of Devils defenseman Ken
Daneyko, then off Maple Leafs forward Gary Roberts and went to
Thomas low in the right circle. Once he controlled the puck with
his skate, the net was wide open for his first goal of the
playoffs.
"Special teams cost us the game," Devils forward Randy McKay
said. "They pretty much got two on their power play and we didn't
get any."
The Maple Leafs looked nothing like the team that was limited to
six shots in being eliminated in Game 6 last year. The addition of
Roberts and fellow veteran Shayne Corson has given them some grit.
Antropov and fellow center Yanic Perreault are healthy for this
series and defenseman Aki Berg and Bryan McCabe add stability along
the back line, where the Leafs were outstanding blocking shots and
taking away passing lanes.
This is the second straight year that Toronto won the first
game.
"He (Joseph) played a great game," Devils center Scott Gomez
said. "But at the same time, we have some positives. We had a lot
of shots. We just didn't convert. But we've been through this
before."
Game notes
The Devils have sold out all four of their home playoff
games. ... New Jersey is 2-for-32 on the power play in the
playoffs, including 0-for-19 at home. ... Sundin, who did not have
a goal in last year's series, hit the crossbar early in the third
period. ... Thomas led the Maple Leafs with four shots, all in the
second period. ... Gomez had five for New Jersey, including a great
chance in close right after Antropov scored.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
Maple Leafs-Devils Series Page
RECAPS
Toronto 2
New Jersey 0
Pittsburgh 3
Buffalo 0
Los Angeles 4
Colorado 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Curtis Joseph continuously denies the Devils en route to the shutout.
avi: 2394 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Toronto's Nikolai Antropov beats Martin Brodeur for the first goal of the series.
avi: 891 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Mats Sundin's shot is deflected in front and Steve Thomas puts home the rebound for a power-play goal.
avi: 800 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
 Curtis Joseph and the Maple Leafs are looking for a second life in the playoffs.
wav: 338 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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