STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Canucks Gain Finals in Double Overtime, 4-3

Greg Adams scored 14 seconds into the second overtime, lifting the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night and into the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Canucks won the Western Conference Finals four games to one to advance to the NHL finals for the second time in their history.

They will face the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. The Devils lead that series 3-2, with Game 6 tonight at the Meadowlands.

The Canucks were last in the finals in 1982, when they were swept in four games by the New York Islanders.

Adams scored the game-winner on a rebound of a shot by Dave Babych from the left point. Toronto goaltender Felix Potvin gloved the initial shot, then dropped it in front, where Adams backhanded it into the net.

Potvin just sat in the crease after the goal, seemingly stunned by the defeat as thousands of fans at the Pacific Coliseum waved white towels, signifying the victory. Potvin made 43 saves.

“I’m so tired and kind of numb,” Adams said. “I don’t feel anything.

“What a great feeling, we’re halfway there and we’re making a run for it.”

They began their run Tuesday night after falling behind, 3-0.

Toronto took its lead in the first period on goals by Michael Eastwood, Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark. The Canucks tied it with three goals in the second by Murray Craven, Nathan Lafayette and Adams.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Canucks and their 11th in the last 13 games.

Toronto’s early lead spoiled a shutout string for Vancouver goaltender Kirk McLean, who made 31 saves. McLean had gone more than seven periods without allowing a goal after the Canucks won Games 3 and 4 by shutouts.

Adams scored the tying goal at 17:57 of the second period on a rebound after Potvin stopped shots by Trevor Linden and Pavel Bure.

“This is unbelievable, this is what you work for, this is what you dream about,” said Canuck Coach and General Manager Pat Quinn, a former Toronto player.

“I know I’ve got a Maple Leaf somewhere on my body, so I don’t know if it’s good we beat them, but I’m proud of our guys.”

Coach Pat Burns shuffled his forward lines and the Leafs scored three times in 4:25 in the first period.