NEW JERSEY VS. TORONTO BUFFALO VS. PITTSBURGH COLORADO VS. LOS ANGELES DALLAS VS. ST. LOUIS

Wednesday, May 2 Updated: May 3, 2:10 PM ET Toronto pressure unrivaled in NHL By Brian A. Shactman ESPN.com TORONTO -- In the U.S., the only media and fan fishbowl comparable to Toronto would be New York City. Both cities are their country's largest and most recognizable metropolis. Both have the rare ability to support more than two daily newspapers and are home to national television networks. Coverage of their sports teams is intense, personal and ubiquitous. However, there's a major distinction between the two: Hockey is, by far, the No. 1 sport in Toronto. Sure, when Mark Messier had things rolling in Manhattan during the mid-1990s, the Rangers were the toast of the town. But even on their best days, the Rangers do well to share the limelight with Derek Jeter and the Yankees, Mike Piazza and the Mets, Allan Houston and the Knicks, Jason Sehorn and the Giants, Wayne Chrebet and the Jets. Life isn't as joyous in Toronto for (L to R) Mats Sundin, Bryan McCabe and Steve Thomas when they aren't scoring. But in Toronto, Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin is under the microscope more than any other athlete, including NBA star Vince Carter. When Sundin doesn't score a goal, it makes headlines. If the Maple Leafs fail to win the Stanley Cup for the 34th consecutive season, Sundin will bear the brunt of the blame. "When you're the highest-paid player in Toronto, it's going to be that way," said Gary Roberts, Sundin's linemate. "Playing in Toronto, being the captain of the Leafs, it comes with the territory," said Sundin, who began his career with the Quebec Nordiques but has been Toronto's captain since 1997. His job is one part team leader, one part punching bag. Sundin is always the most sought-after interview -- every day. Whether it's his temperament or ability as a leader, Sundin handles the criticism well and doesn't allow it to affect his approach to hockey. "If I think I play well, I know that. Whether you get good or bad criticism, you have to know how you played," Sundin said. "I'm not trying to get anyone off my back. I'm trying to win." Calling the Maple Leafs the Yankees of the North is actually an understatement. There are more than a half dozen television crews at an off-day practice session when none of the A-list players are in attendance. As the only Canadian-based team in the Stanley Cup playoffs, attention to them has spread nation wide. Glen Healy has played in both New York and Toronto and thinks the New York media can get a little too personal. Backup goalie Glenn Healy, who spent time in New York with the Islanders and with the Rangers during their Stanley Cup season in 1994, said the scrutiny is comparable, yet the root of it is quite different. "The media in New York has a few tabloid papers, and they would write scandalous stuff, some of it true, some of it very untrue. There really isn't much truth in anything they write, sometimes," Healy said. "Here, you would typically have all the papers writing specific hockey stories, sticking to the game. If you make a mistake, you're certainly going to hear about it. But not the tabloid stuff you'll see in New York. "There have been years here when things haven't gone well, and the poison pens were out. It's been a rocky relationship sometimes, but for the most part, that's your voice to the fans and you have to deal with them. If you don't, the message won't get across to the people who truly love the game and the city. We are a phenomenally popular team in this country." Popularity is a burden some players are happy to deal with. Before becoming a Maple Leaf, Darcy Tucker played in Tampa Bay, where the Lightning struggle to gain headlines. For that reason, along with his competitive nature, Tucker likes the pressure. "It's difficult to play under the scrutiny of Toronto, but if you're a guy who likes to play under pressure, you thrive on that sort of that thing," Tucker said. "We have a lot of guys in our dressing room who like to play under that pressure and scrutiny. I love it. It's no problem for me." Toronto may be more accurately compared to Montreal -- another Original Six city where hockey is the most popular sport. “ If you can't speak French, certainly Toronto (is tougher). You might as well be playing in Germany. Who knows what they're writing about you. ” — Glenn Healy comparing Toronto to Montreal "There are so many reporters in Toronto. The only thing is that in Montreal, you have to deal with the French and English papers, and that makes a difference," said center Yanic Perreault, who grew up in Quebec. Healy says the bilingual component in Montreal is an easier place to play for those who don't speak French. "If you can't speak French, certainly Toronto (is tougher). You might as well be playing in Germany. Who knows what they're writing about you," Healy said. "They're both storied franchises with great histories and expectations. They're probably affected by the success of the past. It's always looming over your shoulders. That's good from an athlete's perspective. You want to have high expectations. You want to go into the season with that, rather than having it be, 'Go out there and play crappy, it doesn't matter.' " Both the Maple Leafs and Canadiens have winning traditions, although Montreal has won more Cups (24-11) and won them more recently (1993 vs. 1967). But with tradition comes even more pressure. "There's a good reason why some players have left this city and flourished because maybe their psyche isn't meant to play under this scrutiny," Healy said. "We all take it in different ways, and some people respond like a deer in headlights. Other guys will use that pressure and scrutiny to challenge themselves to make themselves better players. You have to have a thick skin. "There's no doubt that there's unfair blame put on them in situations it shouldn't have. That's the nature of this beast." Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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