EASTERN CONFERNCE FINALS

Game 1: Sunday, 11 a.m., at Toronto

* Season series: Buffalo, 3-2.

* Top scorers: Toronto--Mats Sundin 31 goals, 52 assists--83 points. Buffalo--Miroslav Satan 40-26--66.

* Team goals-against average: Toronto 2.79 (21st). Buffalo 2.09 (second).

* Power play: Toronto 14.4% (17th). Buffalo 13.5% (21st).

* Penalty killing: Toronto 80.3% (24th). Buffalo 86.2% (seventh).

* Playoff power play: Toronto 6-57 (10.5%). Buffalo 10-44 (22.7%).

* Playoff penalty killing: Toronto 39-46 (84.8%). Buffalo 54-62 (87.1%).

* Top playoff scorers: Toronto--Sergei Berezin 5-4--9. Buffalo--Michael Peca 4-7--11.

* How they got here: Toronto defeated Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in six games each. Buffalo defeated Ottawa in four games and Boston in six.

* Keys: This is being called the Queen Elizabeth Way Series, for the highway that separates the cities. They’re also separated by a philosophical gulf: The Maple Leafs play an open, attacking style and look to goalie Curtis Joseph for clutch saves; the Sabres play a tight defensive game and look to Dominik Hasek to make every save. Toronto is more potent up front, but Buffalo has a more mobile defense and is grittier. Winger Sergei Berezin is Toronto’s surprise scoring leader, but the Maple Leafs have gotten key goals from Lonny Bohonos, former King Yanic Perreault and former Mighty Duck Garry Valk. Team captain Sundin was criticized for not scoring enough, but he surged late in the Pittsburgh series. This is Buffalo center Peca’s favorite time of year. Besides leading the Sabres in scoring, he’s relentless defensively. Center Curtis Brown (four goals) has chipped in, as have former Kings Dixon Ward and Alex Zhitnik, with three goals each. That has made up for the absence of winger Miroslav Satan (bruised ankle). But the key is Hasek’s recurring groin injury. He felt soreness in the Boston series--he twice gave up four goals and was pulled once--but said it’s bearable. If he’s OK, Sabres in seven. If not, Maple Leafs in six.