▁the ▁Sab res ▁picked ▁D mit ri ▁Kal in in ▁with ▁their ▁first - round ▁pick , ▁ 1 8 th ▁overall . ▁ ▁Reg ular ▁season ▁ ▁Season ▁stand ings ▁ ▁Sch edule ▁and ▁results ▁ ▁Play offs ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁Stanley ▁Cup ▁play offs ▁ ▁Eastern ▁Conference ▁Qu arter - final s ▁ ▁Eastern ▁Conference ▁Sem i - final s ▁ ▁Eastern ▁Conference ▁Final s ▁The ▁Toronto ▁Map le ▁Le af s ▁and ▁Buff alo ▁Sab res ▁met ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁Eastern ▁Conference ▁Final s . ▁The ▁Map le ▁Le af s ▁were ▁coming ▁off ▁a ▁six - game ▁series ▁win ▁over ▁the ▁Pitts burgh ▁P engu ins , ▁while ▁the ▁Sab res ▁were ▁coming ▁off ▁a ▁six - game ▁series ▁win ▁themselves , ▁over ▁the ▁Boston ▁Bru ins . ▁Toronto ▁was ▁having ▁its ▁best ▁play off ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁when ▁they ▁last ▁made ▁a ▁conference ▁final ▁series . ▁Buff alo , ▁on ▁the ▁other ▁hand , ▁was ▁in ▁the ▁third ▁round ▁for ▁the ▁second ▁consecutive ▁year . ▁ ▁In ▁Game ▁ 1 , ▁D way ne ▁Rol os on ▁filled ▁in ▁for ▁injured ▁Sab res ▁go alt ender ▁Domin ik ▁H ase k ▁at ▁the ▁Air ▁Canada ▁Centre ▁in ▁Toronto . ▁Le ading ▁ 3 – 2 ▁mid way ▁through ▁the ▁game , ▁Toronto ▁appeared ▁to ▁be ▁in ▁control , ▁but ▁Stu ▁Bar nes ▁tied ▁the ▁game ▁for ▁Buff alo ▁at ▁ 1 4 : 3 7 ▁of ▁the ▁second