In the first round of the NHL playoffs, a recurring theme once again proved true: Goaltenders make or break a Stanley Cup run. How did the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim shock the vastly superior Detroit Red Wings? Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere got hot and Curtis Joseph of Stanley Cup-defending Detroit did not. The Anaheim goaltender's lack of playoff experience didn't hurt him. And the simple goalie equation spoiled the hopes of easy first-round victories for both Detroit and Dallas-the Western Conference's top two cup contenders once the playoffs started. So much for a cakewalk.

Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco learned quickly that hockey in the playoffs is vastly different. Mr. Turco, in just his third year as a pro, posted the lowest goals-against average in NHL history (1.72), but in the first three games his average shot past 2. He cost his team two games in the opening-round best-of-seven series before settling down. c -