Borschevsky's Overtime Goal Seals Series For Maple Leafs

DETROIT - As he headed down the hallway toward the ice to start an overtime period last night, Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Pat Burns shouted, "This is hockey!"

And few minutes later, after the Maple Leafs had defeated the favored Detroit Red Wings 4-3, Burns would call it one of the best hockey games he had ever seen.

Things always look rosy for winners. Yet nobody could dispute Burns.

An overtime goal by Nikolai Borschevsky at 2:35 was the winner for the Maple Leafs as they eliminated the Red Wings in the seventh game of their first-round playoff series.

"I figured if we could hang on and get to overtime, we'd have a chance," Burns said. "During the intermission, before the overtime, I told the guys, `This is what I made you do all those extra laps for.' You're never tired when you're winning.

"I love this. This is the kind of hockey I get off on. This is great!"

The Maple Leafs will host the St. Louis Blues to start the Norris Division finals Monday night.

Bob Rouse, who had a goal in the second period, sent a perfect pass from the right circle to Borschevsky, who deflected the puck past goaltender Tim Cheveldae on the stick side.

"You could see the play developing," Detroit defenseman Steve Chiasson said. "Rouse got in there behind us, and it was over."

The Maple Leafs, who had the only two shots in the overtime, outshot the Red Wings 35-27 in the record 14th overtime game of the first round. The previous record was nine.

This is the second straight year Detroit was highly favored, yet needed to win the final two games after trailing 3-2 in a playoff series. This time, they couldn't pull it off.

The shots were tied at 23 for each side, Detroit was clinging to a 3-2 lead, and the game had been penalty-free as the third period opened.

Detroit's Jim Hiller drew the game's only penalty, for high-sticking Sylvain Lefebvre at 11:50 of the third period, but the Maple Leafs didn't get a shot on goal during the two-minute advantage.

"Not having a power play was odd," said Detroit coach Bryan Murray, who has never coached a team past the second round of the NHL playoffs. "It affected us some."

Doug Gilmour's third goal of the series, from between the circles on a pass from Wendel Clark, tied the game at 3 at 17:17 of the third period. The Maple Leafs outshot Detroit 10-4 in the third period.

The first period ended in a 1-1 tie on goals by Toronto's Glenn Anderson and Detroit's Paul Ysebaert.

In the second period, Detroit's Shawn Burr and Dallas Drake sandwiched goals around one by Rouse for a 3-2 Red Wings lead.

"I don't know if we could have played better," Steve Yzerman said. "We played pretty well, defensively. But we let them come back to tie it, then beat us, so I guess maybe we didn't play our best."

WHL FINALS -- PORTLAND 8, AT SWIFT CURRENT 4 - The Portland Winter Hawks scored five first-period goals to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Hockey League final. Lonny Bohonos and Colin Foley each scored twice for the Hawks, who led by period scores of 5-1 and 7-3.

Adam Deadmarsh, John Badduke, Nick Vachon and Layne Roland added single goals for the Hawks, who will host the Broncos in Portland for at least two games beginning Wednesday.

Jason Krywulak scored twice for the Broncos, who were outshot 34-23.

Andy Schneider and Dean McAmmond scored the other Bronco goals.