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Eastern Conference final preview Click here for more on this story Posted: Wednesday May 19, 1999 12:42 PM We've enlisted the help of SI's Kostya Kennedy to break down the NHL's Conference finals. His thoughts, as well as a prediction on who will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup, follow. To take a look at his preview for the Western Conference, click here. Toronto Maple Leafs (4) vs. Buffalo Sabres (7)   Inside Edge Goaltending: Defensemen: Forwards: Physical play: Depth: Intangibles: Prediction Sabres in six games By now a couple of truths have emerged about these playoff teams: 1) The Sabres are a solid, gritty team with a lot of good, playoff-style forwards who are very opportunistic -- of course, those attributes make them a Cup contender only because they have Dominik Hasek behind them; and 2) The Leafs can actually play defense when they have to. This is definitely the step-sister of the two conference finals, and it may come down to Hasek versus Curtis Joseph . Both teams are going to get their shots on goal in this series and both keepers will be tested. Hasek is the world's best goalie but Cujo has made his reputation by dominating games when his team's season is on the line. He'll be in that predicament before too long. The Sabres will win if : ... Michael Peca continues his outstanding two-way play which his teammates feed off of ... they don't relax and rely on Hasek ... Hasek's groin injury, which forced him out of Game 5 versus the Bruins but which he sloughed off to play Game 6, does not hamper him. The Maple Leafs will win if : Mats Sundin dominates a period or two early on ... they win their first two games at home ... they get to Hasek with a few goals in the early part of the series.

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