So much for the rumors about Curtis Joseph having a sore right hand.
Hot hand is more appropriate.
Joseph stopped 32 shots and the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs showed their new playoff look is for real, beating the New Jersey Devils last night, 2-0, in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals. 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. Joseph, who would not comment on the hand in recent days, just smiled when asked if it was safe to say that the hand didn't bother him. One of the top three or four in the league.