There were two reasons why the banged-up Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

First, the best players remaining on the Leafs' depleted roster were their best players in Game 7.

Right winger Alexander Mogilny, signed as a free agent in the summer of 2001 to provide offense, scored a pair of goal-scorer's goals. The first was a bank shot (off the skate of Sens defenseman Sami Salo) from behind the net. The second was a top-shelf wrister from a near impossible angle.

Left winger Gary Roberts, signed as a free agent in the summer of 2000 to provide leadership and toughness, continued his amazing playoff run by battling for every inch of ice. He finished the night with an assist, seven shots and two hits (although he seemed to have several more) in 18 minutes and 43 seconds of playing time.

Left winger/center Shayne Corson, also signed as a free agent in the summer of 2000 to provide leadership and toughness, threw a blanket over Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who finished without a shot on goal. Corson also threw himself in front of several shots and drew two penalties. And he did it all on a bad left leg.

Defenseman Bryan McCabe, acquired from Chicago in October 2000 to add a physical presence to the blue line, worked the wall and cleaned the crease in Toronto's end. He was credited with a team-high five hits. Like Corson, McCabe sacrificed his body to block shots. He scored the final goal and finished a plus-2.

Defenseman Tomas Kaberle, who the Leafs refused to include in any possible trade package with the Flyers for Eric Lindros, showed off his skating and finesse skills by setting up Mogilny's second goal. He logged a team-high 25:15, blocked two shots and finished a plus-2.

Goaltender Curtis Joseph, signed as a free agent in 1998 to solidify their last line of defense and backstop a drive for the Cup, came up with several big stops in the first period. He finished with 19 saves en route to his 14th playoff shutout, which ties him with the legendary Jacques Plante for third place on the all-time list.

The second reason? The Leafs simply wanted it more.

The best example of their desire came early in the third period. With 47 seconds left on a penalty to Travis Green and still clinging to a 1-0 lead, the penalty-killing unit of Alyn McCauley, Corson, McCabe and Kaberle -- along with Joseph -- wouldn't allow the Senators to score.

Corson, playing without his stick after giving it to defenseman McCabe (who lost his stick in a scrum), fell to his knees to block on a slap shot from Senators defenseman Chris Phillips. The shot hobbled Corson, who staggered around the ice, still trying to make a play until there was a whistle. (When the play finally stopped, Corson had to be helped to the dressing room. He returned later in the period.)

McCabe, following Corson's lead, dove in front of a subsequent blast from Salo. The shot caught him in the upper body and stunned him. Still, he bounced up and kept working. Seconds later, he slid out to block another shot from Salo, who faked the shot and stepped around the desperate slide of McCabe.

Around McCabe, Salo figured he had a clear shooting lane.

However, Kaberle had moved into Salo's shooting lane and blocked his shot. Then, Kaberle recovered the loose puck and carefully moved it to Joseph, who was able to freeze the puck and get a much-needed stoppage.

From beginning to end, the Maple Leafs played with that kind of desperation -- and earned a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.

E.J. Hradek writes hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.