Habs Take Opener

2002 Playoffs

Koivu played only the last three games of the regular season after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in September and undergoing treatment.

"He was a huge inspiration for us tonight and this was big for his confidence," Montreal coach Michel Therrien said.

Blackhawks Rally Late
Alexander Karpovtsev, who had one goal in the regular season, scored with 3:10 to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues in the opening game of their first round Western Conference playoff series.

"You take all the 50-goal scorers and all the trophies and everything else out," coach Brian Sutter said. "It doesn't matter. We all start out even."

Domi Scores Winner
Tie Domi scored the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied for a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders in Game 1 of their first-round series.

"My last playoff game ended as a nightmare so I'm just trying to put the water under the bridge and a start a new chapter," Domi said. "I want to be a part of something here."

Domi was suspended last year for the final three games in a losing effort against New Jersey.

Kings Lose Game 1
Greg De Vries scored the game-winner as Colorado beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series.