Quinn Returns to Hospital; Game 5 Status Uncertain

The Toronto Maple Leafs face elimination from the NHL playoffs after failing to draw inspiration from Pat Quinn’s unexpected return.

The Maple Leafs on Friday had no update on Quinn, who returned to the hospital after Thursday’s 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Leaf assistant coach Rick Ley said Quinn remained hospitalized, where he is being monitored for an irregular heartbeat. He didn’t know whether Quinn he would be cleared to travel to Carolina for today’s Game 5.

The Hurricanes lead the best-of-seven series, 3-1.

Ley said Quinn would not be on the team’s flight Friday afternoon, but didn’t rule out the possibility of the coach making another surprise appearance.

“I think there is a travel concern, but I think everybody knows him well enough that, certainly, he’ll be pulling out all stops to be there,” said Ley, who would take over for Quinn.

Quinn spent two days undergoing tests and then surprised nearly everyone by showing up Thursday night, two hours after being released from the hospital.

The Maple Leafs played their best game of the series, out-shooting Carolina, 31-15, but goaltender Arturs Irbe recorded his first playoff shutout.

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On one side is a confident Dominik Hasek, surrounded by future Hall of Famers and playing in a comfort zone.

On the other is a desperate Patrick Roy, aware that he needs to summon his best effort to prevent his team from falling into a big hole in the Western Conference finals.

In a matchup of two of hockey’s best goalies, Hasek and the Detroit Red Wings hold a 2-1 lead over Roy and the Colorado Avalanche. Game 4 is today. With its second win in Denver, Detroit could clinch the series at home on Monday night.

Hasek, who needed to make only 20 saves in the Red Wings’ 2-1 overtime win on Wednesday night, said he feels more at ease on the ice since joining Detroit this season.

“If I give up three or four goals, we can still score the extra goal, whether it’s four or five,” he said. “Here, I can make a mistake and my teammates can win the game for me. In Buffalo, usually when I made a mistake, it was more difficult to win.

“Here, I’m with nine Hall of Famers. In Buffalo, maybe I was the only one.”

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Goalie John Vanbiesbrouck, who came out of retirement to join the New Jersey Devils in February, has retired again.

Vanbiesbrouck, 38, will become general manager and coach of his former junior team, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.