Alex Ovechkin celebrated his first playoff game by scoring the winning goal in the Washington Capitals' 5-4 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers in the opening game of their quarter-final series.

In the night's other matches, Pittsburgh defeated Ottawa 5-3 at home to lead the best-of-seven series 2-0, NY Rangers went to New Jersey and triumphed 2-1 over the Devils to double their series lead to 2-0 and Minnesota Wild beat Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on their own ice to tie the series at 1-1.

"I was so nervous," the Russian said of his first post-season experience. "I can't even breathe right now, actually.

"It was a good experience for us though, a big win. We still have lots of games [left] and we have to forget this game."

With just over four minutes left in the third period the NHL's leading scorer stole the puck from Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen and flipped it over netminder Martin Biron to lead his side to their eighth successive win and 12th in their last 13.

"It's amazing in sports how great moments follow great players," said Washington coach Bruce Boudreau. "They just seem to be in the right place at the right time.

"For his first playoff game, he finished it off okay."

In other playoff games, Ryan Malone scored twice in the final 62 seconds and Sidney Crosby had four assists to power the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-3 victory over the visiting Ottawa Senators and a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference series.

The New York Rangers also took a 2-0 series lead, defeating the New Jersey Devils 2-1, and in the West, Keith Carney's overtime goal lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 home win over the Colorado Avalanche that levelled their series at 1-1.

In Washington, Ovechkin was closely marked by the tight-checking Flyers before notching the game-winner, a goal that sent the 18,277 crowd at the Verizon Center into a frenzy.

"He's a very opportunistic player," said Flyers coach John Stevens. "He only needs a chance and he gets a chance with the game on the line.

"There can be no shortcomings with a player like that on the ice. That's a play, for me, that can't happen."

Philadelphia had taken a 4-2 lead into the final period before Washington defenseman Mike Green scored twice early in the third period to tie the score at 4-4.

Green's goals gave the Capitals the momentum they had lost during a disastrous second period.

The Capitals had been leading 2-1 in the second period when the Flyers scored three goals, two to center Daniel Briere, in a five-minute span to seize the lead.

"We kind of put ourselves in a hole there with them getting two up on us," said Green. "A lot of people count us out but we always believe that anything can happen."

Philadelphia's Stevens said his side would now put the game out of their minds and prepare for the second game of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series on Sunday in Washington.

"Well, it is one game," said Stevens. "Obviously, you would like to win the first game and move on.

"Momentum is on their side and we just [have] to regroup. You can't let one game linger on."

Reuters