It features two of the greatest offensive players the NHL has known against a player many argue is the greatest goalie of all time. Not a morsel of liver to be found, chopped or otherwise. When the Eastern Conference semifinals begin Thursday, it will become clear there are no weak links left. Every team has strengths. Every team has proven it can compete.
Every team knows it can defeat the West's best representative.
And that's kind of neat, especially when you consider that the East has lost four of the last five Stanley Cups. Pittsburgh and Toronto have gone the way of adding defense at the cost of their free-wheeling styles. The results have been impressive. They have raised the bar, and now everyone is trying to catch up. Toronto won't be nearly as easy an opponent, especially not with goalie Curtis Joseph, who has allowed three goals in four playoffs games.