(Ottawa, Ontario) In the opening game of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Philadelphia Flyers marched into Ottawa and came away with a convincing 3-2 win. The score does not indicated how well the Flyers played. The Sens got 2 late third period goals to make it close at the end. Thanks in large part to a head butting major to Sens Theo Fleury (who once again had another melt down), the Flyers held off the late Sens charge.

This game was over after the 1st period as the Flyers came out with much more energy and it showed on the scoreboard. Before the Sens fans could sit down and enjoy a good old Canadian beer it was 3-0. Vyborny, Yashin and Hedican all scored within the first 10 minutes of the period as the Flyers went on to out shoot the Senators 14-3 after 1 period. All three Sens shots coming from well outside the blueline. The checking line of Sillinger, Marshall and McEachern managed to keep Hart Trophy candidate Joe Sakic in check, despite the shorthanded goal in the third.

The Flyers defence which was a question mark according to the prognosticators seemed to do an outstanding job and also chipped in with a goal from Hedican. The question now is can the Flyers go for the kill and take both games in Ottawa and head back to the Wachovia Center with a commanding lead in the series. If Roloson can continue to make the timely saves and the Flyers come out with the same jump as in Game 1, then I don't see how the score of game 2 could be any different. But remember this IS playoff hockey and momentum shifts very, very quickly

Rumour has it that the Senators GM was out of town and unable to send in his line combinations.

Look for the Flyers to get blown out tonight!

Come on now it was only game 1 lets not start making excuses already :D