Maven's Memories: Islanders vs Leafs in 2002

Workhorse Islanders defenseman Ken Jonsson called it "an awesome feeling."
Crack forward Alexei Yashin edited it down to one word, "Wow!"
Coach Peter Laviolette said, "Let's get on with it."
The Islanders Army was ready for the fireworks. It was playoff time, April 2002.

Then again so were the Toronto Maple Leafs, headed by coach Pat Quinn who opened the verbal duel with a "We're the underdogs because we've got so many injuries."
It was a weak curtain-raiser which was quickly squelched by Lavvy who shot right back at Quinn, "Nice try!"
But when it came to ice time -- Game One -- Pat's puck-chasers tried harder. The Leafs thrilled the home fans by rebounding from an early Kenny Jonsson goal and captured the opener 3-1.
Laviolette's lads did better the second time around; except for one thing; they simply could not solve Curtis Joseph who manned the pipes for Toronto.
All Cujo needed was one goal but he got two. New York got zippo; ergo: 2-0 Leafs both on the scoreboard as well as the game board.
As a matter of fact, the Leafs also were dominating in the game of physicality. That does not mean it was all legal stuff; there was so much done on the wrong side of the rule book that Mike Milbury went into action.

One of the best groaners who ever came down the pike, the Isles boss invited members of the press into his club's weight room for a post-game-two video session prior to Game Three, this time in Uniondale.
His theme was simple enough: Quinn's guys were getting away with murder and the zebras were doing nothing about it.
"We've got rules in this game and we've got to call them the way they're written," the GM orated for openers.
His videos zeroed in on ex-Isles defenseman Bryan McCabe who consistently escaped a penalty with his illegal leg-locking "Can-Opener" move that continually disrupted Laviolette's skaters.
"That's a penalty," shouted Milbury. "You can't put your stick between a guy's legs. If they don't have the courage to call it, then there's something wrong."
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Islanders in their playoff return to Nassau Coliseum. The fans picked up on the manager's anger and so did Yashin-Peca & Company.
Better still they went nuts with every puck eluding Curtis Joseph. When all was said and done the formerly composed Toronto goaltender was reduced to a simple sieve.
Islanders 6, Maple Leafs 1.
It wasn't just the glut of goals either. Laviolette's stickhandlers diluted Toronto's toughness and -- with Steve Webb bouncing off Leafs like a human pinball, the home club took the toughness title for one night.
But it was only one night; one win. They still trailed in the series but redemption was right around the calendar with Game Four.
This time Quinn's skaters rose to the occasion. They took a 2-1 lead into the third period and maintained it for 13 minutes when the home boys caught up on Kip Miller's goal at 13:16.
"By this time," said broadcaster Howie Rose, "the Coliseum was louder than it was during the Cup years."
The decibel count climbed even higher when defenseman Roman Hamrlik scored his first goal of the series and, for the first time, the Isles were ahead.
But with less than four minutes remaining in the third period, the very annoying and pushy Shayne Corson tied the score. At this point overtime seemed inevitable.
Enter Shawn Bates.

Taking a head-man pass along the left side, Bates got a jump on the enemy defense and appeared to be in the clear. But desperate times inspire desperate moves and Bryan McCabe was desperate.
Recklessly diving to thwart the breakaway, the Toronto defenseman swiped his stick at Bates' skates and upended the Islander. Referee Brad Watson signaled for a penalty shot. The clock showed 2:30 remaining.
With the standing room crowd's roars ringing in his ears, Bates knew that this was about to be the most meaningful hockey play of his young life.
"My stomach was up in arms," he remembered. "I thought I was going to throw up. I decided to go to the bench first for some advice."
He chose the captain. Peca knew Cujo's moves well and realized that the ice was choppy so late in the game. This was no time for fancy stuff.
"Take your best shot," Peca asserted. "Shoot the puck; no dekes, please."
High up in the broadcast booth, Howie Rose listened to his sidekick, Joe Micheletti, review Bates' options. Now it was Howie's turn as Bates arrived at center ice for what could be the game-breaker.
Sizing up the situation, Bates launched his attack, moving a bit to the left then hinging his body to the right for his right-handed drive.
Rose In The Booth: "BATES IN ON GOAL...."HE SHOOTS....
Shawn wristed the puck over Cujo's right shoulder. "HE SCORES!!!"

Teammate Dave Scatchard was the first to envelop the hero, followed by a posse of jubilant Nassaumen. It proved to be the 3-2 winner and entered the realm of Islanders Hall of Fame goals.
Up high, Rose put the event in perspective. "For a franchise that has had many memorable post-season moments, you've just seen one of the most memorable."
Apart from tying the series, the win intensified the I.Q. (Intensity Quotient) at each side. Personal feuds -- Shayne Corson vs. Dave Scatchard for one -- multiplied with none more inflamed than Michael Peca-Darcy Tucker.
After a collision in Game Five, Tucker shouted, "I'm gonna kill you. I'm taking you out!"
And he did -- in Game Five. When Tucker nailed him, the Captain went down with a torn, anterior cruciate ligament in the left knee. There was no penalty on the play nor a suspension.
If that wasn't horrid enough, Toronto won the game, 6-3. and Ken Jonsson was done for the series with another concussion; thanks to Gary Roberts' hit from behind.
"We're not dead yet," snapped Milbury as his men took the Coliseum ice for Game Six.
No they weren't; not at all. Webb creamed just about every Leaf at one time or another while Marius Czerkawski popped a pair of goals and, lo and behold, the Isles tied the series with a 5-3 decision.

It all came down to a decisive Game Seven in Toronto and for a short time it appeared that the Isles might pull it out. Alexei Yashin put his club ahead 1-0 in the first and all seemed honky-dory until one fateful play.
Roberts -- the guy who smashed Jonsson out of the series -- tied the game while simultaneously creamed Chris Osgood like a highway macadam roller. Ossie was slow getting up and his mates were even slower to revive.
The Leafs went ahead, 2-1, and 3-1 but fought back and trimmed the lead to one goal. Working furiously to tie the count, Yashin twice came within inches of beating Cujo.
Next it was rookie Trent Hunter who momentarily appeared to have the tying goal on his stick but Cujo robbed him as well.
The Leafs empty-netter with 40 seconds remaining sealed the deal -- 4-2.
Sadly, it was a heroic over and out in seven. But with a couple of days of cooling out, Milbury echoed the feelings of Islanders fans:
"It certainly was a season of progress," the GM concluded. "A season of building people up and of people maturing."
Then, a pause. "I want this team to go deeper. I want it to go further and I believe that we can!"