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PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference quarterfinals; tied 1-1.
For all their talent and marquee names, the key to success for the Toronto Maple Leafs is physical play and intensity.

Missing in the series opener, that style returned for Toronto in Game 2 and a victory was the result.

Toronto will look to continue its abrasive play when its Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the archrival Ottawa Senators shifts to the Corel Centre for Game 3.

Following a disappointing performance by his team in a 4-2 loss in the series opener, Toronto coach Pat Quinn shuffled his lineup for Game 2 on Saturday.

Rugged forward Darcy Tucker, who had missed 14 games with an abdominal injury, replaced Mikael Renberg on the top line with Mats Sundin and Gary Roberts. Defenseman Ken Klee, sidelined the past eight games with a shoulder injury, returned to the lineup in place of Aki Berg.

Sundin assisted on goals by Roberts in the first and second period, and Ed Belfour stopped 31 shots for his 12th postseason shutout, a 2-0 Toronto victory that squared the series at one game apiece.

Though Tucker and Klee didn't record any points, their presence alone helped Toronto play a more physical and determined game. Tucker's return seemed to bring out the best in Sundin and Roberts, both pointless in Game 1.

``They both gave us a big spark,'' Toronto defenseman Bryan McCabe said. ``Kenny was solid defensively and Tucker was his usual self, running people over and playing really hard. He's a spark plug, a little pest.''

Tomas Kaberle played much better in Game 2 paired with Klee, often his regular defense partner during the regular season.

``Ken was his partner for a long time,'' Quinn said. ``There is a sense of comfort that comes with some guys playing with certain guys.''

With the series shifting to Ottawa for the next two games, the Leafs know they must find a way to maintain the intensity they displayed Saturday.

``If the hit is there, you have to take it,'' Roberts said. ``If it's not, you can't go looking for it or you end up going out of position.''

While Roberts, Tucker, Sundin and the rest of the Leafs were solid in Game 2, none were better than Belfour, who recorded his 83rd playoff victory to tie New Jersey's Martin Brodeur for the most among active goalies.

Belfour made his best stop during an Ottawa 5-on-3 power play in the third period, robbing Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson with a glove save.

``Eddie gives us a chance to win every night and he did it again,'' Roberts said.

Toronto doesn't figure to be intimidated playing at the Corel Centre, where it won all three meetings during the regular season, including a 6-0 victory in the regular season finale April 3.

While the Leafs play their best when they're physical, the Senators have to find a way to remain disciplined. Ottawa gave Toronto seven power-play opportunities in Game 2, and Roberts cashed in at 6:02 of the second period.

``We've got to play better as a team and we've got to have more discipline,'' Alfredsson said. ``We couldn't get our power play going and we have to adjust to what the officials are calling.''

While they weren't pleased with their performance in Game 2, the Senators know they're in good position after splitting the first two games of a best-of-seven series on the road.

``We have to work harder, but we've got a lot we can build on,'' Ottawa goalie Patrick Lalime said. ``We got the split and we're going home. We feel like we're in a good position.''

Finding a way to contain Roberts should be a top priority for the Senators. In 13 playoff games against Ottawa, Roberts has nine goals and six assists.

Game 4 is Wednesday at the Corel Centre.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Maple Leafs - 103 points; 4th seed. Senators - 102 points; 5th seed.

PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS: Maple Leafs - Roberts, 2 goals; Brian Leetch and Sundin, 2 assists; Roberts, Leetch and Sundin, 2 points; Alexei Ponikarovsky and Nik Antropov, 6 PIM. Senators - Marian Hossa, 2 goals; Martin Havlat, 2 assists, Hossa and Havlat, 2 points; seven with 4 PIM.

PLAYOFF SPECIAL TEAMS: Maple Leafs - Power play: 20.0 percent (2 for 10). Penalty killing: 85.7 percent (12 for 14). Senators - Power play: 14.3 percent (2 for 14). Penalty killing: 80.0 percent (8 for 10).

GOALTENDERS: Maple Leafs - Belfour (1-1, 1 SO, 2.00 GAA); Trevor Kidd (no appearances). Senators - Lalime (1-1, 2.01); Martin Prusek (no appearances).

Toronto 2, Ottawa 0

April 12, 2004

OTTAWA (AP) -- Ed Belfour has backstopped the Toronto Maple Leafs back to home-ice advantage.

Belfour made 37 saves for his second straight shutout, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.

The Maple Leafs hold a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series. Game 4 is Wednesday night in Ottawa.

Belfour kept Toronto in the game in the first when Ottawa held a 13-4 advantage in shots, and shut the door on the Senators with 17 saves in the third as Ottawa outshot Toronto 37-17 overall.

``Fortunately I had a good view of most of the shots in the first and I just kept working hard, and it worked out,'' Belfour said.

Joe Nieuwendyk scored his second goal of the playoffs early in the second period. Mats Sundin added a goal on a two-on-one rush in the third, scoring on one of only two shots by Toronto in the period.

``We kind of weathered the storm early on, in big part thanks to Eddie,'' Nieuwendyk said. ``He made some incredible saves for us, but that's sometimes what you get in playoff hockey where one team throws everything at you and get nothing for it, and you find away to hang in there and chip away and eventually we got the goals we needed.''

Belfour has held Ottawa scoreless for 138:21. He made 31 saves for his first Toronto playoff shutout Saturday in a 2-0 win that gave the Maple Leafs a split of the first two home games of the series.

``I've seen it before with him,'' said Nieuwendyk, who won a Stanley Cup with Belfour for Dallas in 1999. ``He really enjoys this time of year and he's playing with a lot of focus. He prepares himself better than any goalie I've ever played with so it's a very positive thing for our squad.''

Belfour, who will be 39 on April 21, got his 84th career playoff win to keep pace with New Jersey's Martin Brodeur for the lead among active goalies.

It was his 13th career playoff shutout, moving him past Dominik Hasek into second place among active goalies behind Brodeur.

``With experience you're bound to get better somehow, as long you work hard at it, stay healthy and keep your focus,'' Belfour said.

The Senators haven't scored since Marian Hossa got his second goal of the game 1:39 into the third period of a 4-2 win in Thursday's series opener in Toronto.

``He's a very good goalie, let's not kid ourselves, but we're a very good team,'' Senators forward Bryan Smolinski said. ``We've got some scorers and we're going to look at it and see where we can make some adjustments. We're screening him and he's making some great saves.

``We've just got to keep pounding the puck to the net, I mean one of them is going to go in and once we get one, we're going to get a bunch.''

The laconic Belfour displayed rare wit when he was asked if he thought he was getting inside the Senators' heads.

``I don't worry about things like that, I focus on my own game,'' Belfour said. ``That's psychology.''

Nieuwendyk, who scored the first goal of the series 3:15 into that game, beat Ottawa goalie Patrick Lalime with a one-timer 1:30 into the second.

``It was a great shot -- what are you going to say?'' Lalime said.

Sundin missed a chance to put Toronto up by two goals 12:12 into the second period when his shot off a scramble struck Senators defenseman Zdeno Chara -- who was penalized for interference on the play -- squarely in the backside of his pants.

The sellout Corel Centre crowd of 18,500 waved white towels to encourage the Senators. But it was the Maple Leafs who came alive, and this time Sundin didn't squander his opportunity.

Breaking down the right side off the ensuing faceoff in the Toronto zone, Sundin elected to shoot on a two-on-one and beat Lalime with 5:44 left to silence the crowd.

``Mats always seems to come up with those big goals, and it was sureappreciated,'' Belfour said.

Notes

Actor Matthew Perry, an Ottawa native, attended the game and was given a loud ovation when he was shown on the video scoreboard. ... Senators C Jason Spezza returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the first twogames in Toronto. C Antoine Vermette sat out.