Every series in the first round had at least one overtime game, and at least two games decided by one goal. Three of the four conference semifinals begin today, as Toronto, which swept Ottawa, visits defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey. St. Louis will play at Dallas, the two-time defending Western Conference champions, tomorrow. Seventh-seeded Los Angeles stunned Detroit in six games, earning a date with the Avalanche, the NHL's top team with 118 points. New Jersey, the top seed in the East, survived a scare from Carolina but advanced in six games.
New Jersey plays Toronto, a team it eliminated in last year's second round.
Devils defenseman Scott Stevens set the physical tone with devastating hits in that series, just as he did against Carolina . Goalie Curtis Joseph, bothered recently by a right-hand injury, led Toronto's upset of the Senators with shutouts in the first two games. He gave up just three goals in the series. The Sabres allowed the fewest goals in the regular season and Hasek posted a league-high 11 shutouts. St. Louis solved the San Jose Sharks a year after losing to them as the West's top seed.