"The first half of the game was our best effort in the playoffs," Hasek said. "We outskated them and outhit them. I'm sure Boston will be ready the next game."

The Sabres hope Miroslav Satan, who led them with 40 regular-season goals, will be also after missing his third straight game with a bruised foot.

Peca and Brown provided the offense with their second playoff goals. Brown's came during a two-man advantage at 5:57 of the second period.

Sweeney made it 2-1 with his second playoff goal with a rising 30-foot shot from the left while Hasek was on his knees in the crease.

Maple Leafs 4, Penguins 2

TORONTO--Mats Sundin broke out of his scoring slump and dropped Jaromir Jagr with one of the hardest body checks of the game to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-2 victory last night that evened their playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins at one win each.

Sundin scored his second and third postseason goals and assisted on goals by Steve Thomas and Lonny Bohonos, whose unexpected appearance invigorated the Maple Leafs' first line.

Kip Miller and German Titov beat Curtis Joseph, who was otherwise at his acrobatic best.

Game Three in the NHL Eastern Conference semifinal is tomorrow night in Pittsburgh.

Titov's goal off a cross-crease pass from Jagr 12:42 into the third period set up a tense finish.

But Thomas blasted a slap shot from the circle to the left of goalie Tom Barrasso high into the Pittsburgh net at 16:50 to end the suspense. Penguins coach Kevin Constantine yelled at referees Don Koharski and Paul Stewart and applauded them for missing what appeared to be an obvious trip of a Penguin that helped the Maple Leafs gain possession of the puck.

The Maple Leafs had jumped to a 2-0 lead in outshooting the Penguins 12-7 in the first period.

Bohonos, who has bounced between the NHL and the AHL for five years and who had been brought in after the elimination last week of the St. John's farm team, hadn't expected to play. But he was given the left-wing spot of Freddie Modin, who was dropped from the lineup because of his lack of productivity, and had an immediate impact alongside Sundin and Steve Thomas.

Bohonos backhanded in a rebound at 6:06, and got an assist when Sundin did the same at 14:41 on a power play.

"It's definitely one of my career highlights," Bohonos said during an interview at the first intermission.