Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Tomas Fleischmann scored the game-winner in the early stages of the third period, as the Washington Capitals edged the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, in Game 1 of this star-studded Eastern Conference semifinal from a roaring Verizon Center. It's a match-up boasting two of the most recognizable names in the NHL -- Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin, the last two players to capture the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Ovechkin and Crosby's teammate, Evgeni Malkin, who led the league with 78 assists and 113 points during the regular season, are two of the three finalists for the prestigious award this year, with the indelible Ovechkin vying to become the first player to claim the honor in back-to-back seasons since Dominik Hasek accomplished the feat over a decade ago. Ovechkin and David Steckel also lit the lamp for the second-seeded Capitals, who battled back from a three-games-to-one hole in the first round to vanquish the Rangers, the franchise's first playoff series triumph in 11 years. Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom both recorded two assists. Unheralded rookie Simeon Varlamov continued his outstanding work between the pipes for the Southeast Division champs. Varlamov, who supplanted Jose Theodore after a less-than-stellar effort in Game 1 against New York, earned the victory with 34 saves, none bigger than a fabulous stop on Crosby late in the second period and with the score tied. Crosby and Mark Eaton found the net for the fourth-seeded Penguins, who needed six games to eliminate Philadelphia in the opening round. Marc-Andre Fleury allowed three goals on 26 shots in defeat. Game 2 of this best-of-seven set is scheduled for Monday in the nation's capital.

Final Score: Chicago 6, Vancouver 3

Vancouver, BC (My Sportsbook) - The Blackhawks once again erased a multiple- goal deficit in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Canucks, but unlike Game 1 the visitors completed the comeback, as Patrick Sharp's two goals sparked five straight for Chicago in a 6-3 decision over Vancouver at General Motors Place. Nikolai Khabibulin allowed the game-winner with 73 seconds to go in the series opener on Friday after the Blackhawks scored three times in the third period to tie the game. There were no late heroics for the hosts this time around, as Khabibulin made 18 saves, sending the series back to Chicago tied, 1-1, for Game 3 on Tuesday. Dave Bolland recorded a shorthanded tally and an empty-netter, while Patrick Kane added a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks. Vancouver's Roberto Luongo allowed all five goals on 31 shots against. Sami Salo, who netted the game-winner on Friday, Alexander Edler and Henrik Sedin each scored for the Canucks, who lost for the first time this postseason after sweeping the Blues in the opening round. The game was chippy throughout, featuring 27 total penalties and six 10-minute misconducts, three for each team.