Philadelphia 3 - Montreal 4 OT (series 1-0 Mon)

Philly dropped the ball, big time, and let a reeling Montreal team off the hook.  For two and a half periods Philly got to the net and Montreal didn’t.  The Flyer forwards crashed and banged and bothered Carey Price while back-checkers and an aggressive defense made Montreal work to keep the puck.  Then they got lazy, got sucked in to overtime and lost.  Hatcher’s 3rd period shot on Andrei Kostitsyn will be a re-curring theme.  Focus is going to be a series key.  When the Flyers dialed in Montreal couldn’t generate pressure or move the puck, when that pressure dropped, Montreal grabbed the goals they needed to win the game.  If I’m in either locker room I’m downplaying Game 1.  This is going to be a long series.

Colorado 3 - Detroit 4 (Series 1-0 DET)

I don’t even remember who was famous in 2002.  Wasn’t Chumbawumba big?  Anyways, Detroit ran Jose Theodore out of the building - the goalie was supposedly sick and returned to the team hotel after surrendering 4 goals on 16 shots - and then milked a 3 goal lead for the victory.  As is his usual, Chris Osgood played just well enough to get the victory (3 goals allowed, 18 saves) but isn’t exactly slamming the door on Hasek.  Colorado’s happy because they got sub-par play from their goaltender and still got within a goal.  They also un-tracked Paul Stasny who scored the game’s opener.  Detroit is happy because they won the game.  Johan Franzen had a big night and they’re up in the series.