OTHL -- The Eastern Conference kicked off the playoffs today, and we got to two home and two away wins. President Trophy winners, the Boston Bruins started there bid for the cup in a bad way by losing to Montreal 2-1. Montreal played smart and stayed out of the penalty box, only giving Boston three powerplays the entire game. Montreal showed a lot of pace and chased the Bruins around the rink. Todd White (1) scored the playoffs first goal as the Habs third line scored the first goal of the series. Andreas Johansson and Ian Lapierre assisted on the goal that was scored halfway trough the first period. Late in the same period, we got some further evidence that this is a series between two bitter rivals. Mike Modano and and Mark Reechi, two players not know for there in the face style, got together and exchanged glove shots. And both where given penalties for there actions.
And the rough stuff spilled over in the second period. The second period had only started when Montreal's Tim Taylor where given a minor penalty and a 10 minute misconduct for a highstick. However, the home team where not able to use the two minutes to get back on even terms. Insted the Bruins scored there first goal in this years playoffs, right after the powerplay. Todd Marchant (1) used his speed as he blow past the Montreal defense and tied up the game. Jason Blake and Brendan Witt got the two assists on Marchant's goal.
Eight minutes into the second period, Sheldon Souray and Igor Ulanov decided to exhange some words. Ulanov did not like the way Souray had used his stick on one of Ulanov's teammates. But we did not get to see any gloves dropped, as the refs where quick to jump in. Just a minute after that little get together, it was time again. Joe Thornton boarded Montreal defender Jason Holland, a hit that drew a crowd. With Ian Laperriere doing what he could to get his hands on Joe Thornton. Laperriere was given a minor for a cross-check, while Joe Thornton where sent to an early shower for the boarding. Jason Holland where also forced to leave the game with a elbow injury.
The 17304 in the FleetCenter where very much into the game by now, but Zigmund Palffy where able to quiet the area when he scored a unassisted goal 10:43 into the second period. Palffy intercepted a bad pass and blasted home the puck behind Mikka Kiprusoff who did everything he could tonight with 31 saves. The Bruins lost some of the energy that had come from Marchmant's 1-1 goal earlier in the period, and Montreal took over the game again. In the third period, the Bruins lost there temper and paraded to the penalty box, while Montreal where allowed to play much of the period a man up. Holding the Bruins to only 5 shots. Gonchar, Witt, Ulanov and Blake where in the box during a four minute strech in the third period. But despite getting to play almost five minutes with a man more on the ice, the Habs where unable to score any more goals. However, they keept the Bruins off the scoresheet and won the all important first game.
The first day of the playoffs also saw the New Jersey Devils win 5-3 on home ice against Buffalo. The Devils played un-disiplined and Buffalo had 7 powerplays in the game, but despite that Buffalo only managed to score 1 powerplay goal. New Jersey on the other hand showed off there scary offense and won the game fairly easy. Despite being outshoot (29 to 22), much thanks to the powerplays. New Jersey got all of there goals from five different players. Kozlov, Fata, Brylin, Legwand and the leagues top scorer Simon Gagne, scored for New Jersey. While Buffalo got there goals from Dean McAmmond, Jochen Hecht and Brenden Morrow.
In Florida the fans got to see three game misconducts, injuries to Jarome Iginla, Alexei Kovalev and Brad Stuart. Along with six goals, where five of them coming from the Panthers. Mathieu Schneider had a big night on defense with 3 assists. Ed Jovanovski also showed that he will be a force to recon with in the playoffs as he had 8 hits and 3 shots in the game. Alexeander Frolov scored twice for Florida, while Jarome Iginla, Alexander Mogilny and Scott Mellanby also scored for the home team. The lone goal for Pittsburgh was scored by Marc Savard.
Before the playoffs started, most people said that the series to watch is the one between Toronto and Philadelphia. And juding by the first game, they where right. The two teams combined for 5 goals and 63 shots on net. The packed Wachovia Center also got to see some hard nosed hockey, where Bryan McCabe lead the way with a game high 9 hits. And the two teams tried to set the tone early, but the refs where hard on the whistle tonight and handed out 9 penalties in the first period alone. Including a game misconduct on Adam Foote after a nasty charging from the Leafs defender. Foote's target with the charge, was the Flyers goalie Marty Turco. Who was dazed by the hit, and was forced to leave the game with a suspected concussion. So Vesa Toskala was forced into action, and the finnish goalie played a solid game making 26 saves.
The first goal in the game, came early in the second period when veteran winger Gary Roberts scored a powerplay goal as Steve Yzerman where in the box. The Flyers only needed a couple of seconds to reply as Jeff Frisen tied up the game assisted by Leetch and Lemieux. But Toronto regained the lead when Nik Antropov scored six minutes into the same period. A scoreline that lasted until halfway into the third period, when Brian Gionta tied it up for the Flyers. Yzerman and Friesen took care of the assists on Gionta's goal. And the third period saw no more goals, insted we got this years first playoff overtime. The overtime was only a minute old when former Leaf, now Flyer Brian Leetch was penalized for a cross-check. Giving Toronto an excellent opportunity to kill the game. But the Flyers keept the Leafs away from the net and rode out the powerplay. Seven minutes into the overtime, the Flyers got there chance on a powerplay as Mark Eaton was given a five minute major for charging. But just like Toronto had failed to score on there powerplay in the overtime, the Flyers failed to convert and win the game. Insted it looked like this overtime where going to be a long one. But that was changed when Sergei Fedorov snapped up a pass from Ponikarovsky and scored the game winner, 13 minutes into the first overtime period.
PLAYER OF THE NIGHT: Sergei Fedorov (Toronto) - Game winning overtime goal, and assist on another goal.
Tomorrow the west will get there first batch of games on the road.