TORONTO, April 20 (UPI) -- Joe Nieuwendyk scored a pair of goals Tuesday as Toronto posted a 4-1 victory over Ottawa in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
After netting the game-winner in Game Three, Nieuwendyk missed the next contest with back spasms. But with captain Mats Sundin out of the lineup with a lower body injury, Nieuwendyk returned for Game Five and helped Toronto take a three games to two lead by scoring his third goal of the series.
With the momentum on Ottawa's side following a double-overtime victory in Game Six, Chad Kilger gave the Maple Leafs the lead with his second career playoff goal just 6:19 into the first period.
Just 82 seconds later, Nieuwendyk fired a shot from above the left faceoff circle that sneaked by on the short side. With 21 seconds to go in the period, the three-time Stanley Cup winner snapped the puck between Lalime's pads from the left circle for a 3-0 cushion.
