In Pittsburgh on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Flyers erased a 3-0 deficit to overcome the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime, to win 4-3.  Penguins star Sidney Crosby scored the first goal and picked up an assist in the first period in which the Penguins had control.  All 3 Penguins goals came in the first period, which delighted the home crowd, however the mood soon soured when the Flyers took control of the 2nd and 3rd periods and in OT.   Danny Briere’s first of two goals midway through the 2nd period lifted the Flyers, with the tying goal coming in the 3rd. Jakub Voracek scored the OT winner, capitalising a horrible said-to-be miscommunication between two Penguins defenders in front of the goals.

Nashville scored a game 1 win, holding off the Red Wings 3-2.  Gabriel Bourqe scored 2 goals, and Preds’ goaltender Pekka Rinne was again outstanding with 35 saves.  Nashville will have to put in a huge effort to win the next game as Detroit will be out to get them and the Wings are almost impossible to beat back in Detroit.
Also played on Wednesday, the LA Kings scored an impressive win over Vancouver at Vancouver.  The Kings held off the Canucks 4-2.  The Kings were impressive as underdogs, however it took a lucky bounce to score the game winning goal.  Dustin Penner capitalised with 3:14 left in the 3rd period after a Mike Richards pass bounced of teammate Jeff Carter’s skate, and let fire a shot past Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo.  Whilst the Canucks won the President’s Trophy this year, the Kings only secured a playoff berth with 3 games left in the regular season.

Today, the New York Rangers beat Ottawa 4-2 at Madison Square Garden.  Rangers captain Ryan Callahan opening the scoring in the 1st period, with Marian Gaborik, Brian Boyle and Brad Richard also scoring.  The game seemed much under the Senators control until the late 2nd period when Gaborik and Boyle scored.  Ottawa scored 2 goals late in the 3rd.  Henrik Lundqvist was ever so solid on the last line making 30 saves.

In a tight game between Boston and Washington, Chris Kelly stepped up in OT to win it for the Bruins.  He unleashed a long slap shot from nearly halfway which sailed over Caps goalie Braden Holtby and ended the scoreless tie.  Game 2 will be played in Boston.

Martin Havlat of the San Jose Sharks scored two goals – and the match winner – in his side’s double OT victory against St Louis 3-2.  Blues’ center Patrik Berglund scored both of his side’s goals which were also his first career playoffs goals.  Antti Niemi, the Sharks’ goalie, made 40 saves, with 14 of them coming in the first period of OT.  Game 2 will be played in St Louis, on April 14th.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathon Toews made his comeback from a concussion - after missing 22 consecutive games - against the rising Phoenix Coyotes.  He scored the first goal of the game, however the Coyotes won 3-2 in OT.  Phoenix lost leading goal scorer Radim Vrbata in the first period, however Martin Hanzal stepped up and broke the deadlock.

In the Florida Panthers’ first Stanley Cup venture since 2000, they succumbed to a 3-2 loss against New Jersey.  Devils’ goalie Martin Brodeur won his 100th post season game, and stopped 24 shots.  The Devils rose to a 3-0 lead and the Panthers poised a comeback and scored 2 in the 2nd period, but ultimately the Devils held them off.

First Game Scores:

Flyers def. Penguins 4-3 OT
Predators def. Red Wings 3-2
L.A def. Canucks 4-2
Rangers def. Ottawa 4-2
Bruins def. Capitals 1-0 OT
Sharks def. Blues 3-2 (double OT)
Phoenix def. Chicago 3-2 OT
New Jersey def. Florida 3-2

FF

Image courtesy of NHL