Eddie Shut The Door, Thirty Seven Times

After the first two games of the Battle of Ontario IV, many thought the series would go seven games before being decided. The first two games displayed the strong qualities of both teams which made it look very unlikely for one team to pull ahead from the other and win the series in five or six games. However, after game three of the series last night in Ottawa, Eddie Belfour looked as though he may be intent on a few extra days of rest in between series.

The Leafs were defeated handily on the shot clock thirty seven to seventeen but won on the scoreboard by a score of 2-0 thanks to perfect goaltending from Belfour. After Joe Nieuwendyk got the Leafs on the board first in last night’s game, Belfour took over making many saves on both initial and secondary chances. The Leafs hung on to their one goal lead until the 14:16 mark of the third period when Mats Sundin potted an insurance marker through the legs of Patrick Lalime.

Making matters even worse for the Senators, their league leading power play during the regular season has gone dry going zero for nine in the past two games. Helping that out was the Leafs’ improved discipline avoiding lousy penalties. Apart from an early hooking call on Nik Antropov, the Maple Leafs did a fairly good job of staying out of the penalty box. With the hooking call; however, Antropov has now picked up at least one minor penalty in each game of the series, something he must concentrate on stopping. The Leafs do not want to give up any power play chances to an Ottawa team with such a potent power play.

The Leafs will take on the Senators in game four of their Eastern Conference quarter finals match up on Wednesday where they could find themselves in the driver’s seat with a win.