Isles-Maple Leafs series has tongues wagging

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- As if the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't have enough to worry about with Mats Sundin out for the playoffs, now they have to listen to Islanders' captain Michael Peca.

He took some gleeful swipes, just one day after New York tied the playoff series with a 4-3 victory. Game 5 is in Toronto tonight.

"Some of those guys think they're bullies," Peca said after a short practice Thursday before the team flew out. "But it's rare in this league that you're going to bully anyone. They try and threaten you, but it becomes ridiculous, almost."

Players on both teams have gotten into postgame scrums in three of the four games so far.

"They say things like, 'I'll kill you,' or 'Maybe next year,' but it becomes comical," Peca said.

Peca was asked specifically about Toronto's Darcy Tucker, who has tried to bait Peca into fights.

"It's not a good trade-off for our team, I don't think, myself for him," Peca said wryly, meaning losing Tucker in the penalty box would hardly hurt Toronto's chances on the ice. "This is hard, playoff hockey. If they think the only way to counteract it is to fight, maybe they're not cut out for playoff hockey."

This series already was marked by gamesmanship, beginning with New York general manager Mike Milbury and his post-Game 2 rant about the officiating. It continued with Toronto coach and GM Pat Quinn, who steadfastly refused to divulge Sundin's injury after the Leafs' captain and best player sat out Wednesday's Game 4.

Sundin, the hockey world learned Thursday, is out for the postseason with a broken left wrist.

Peca actually began needling the Maple Leafs -- particularly goalie Curtis Joseph -- after Wednesday night's win, in which Shawn Bates scored a penalty shot for the game-winner.

Joseph was pulled from Game 3 on Tuesday after letting in all the goals in a 6-1 New York victory.

Peca said Joseph could be tight for Game 5.

"Cujo might be putting pressure on himself," Peca said. "He wasn't exceptionally sharp in the last two games. He might also be thinking this is his last game as a Maple Leaf in Toronto."