No. 1 Star: Martin Havlat, Chicago Blackhawks
Seven years was a long time between Stanley Cup playoff games in Chicago, but it was worth the wait: Havlat followed his game-tying goal in the third period with the third-fastest playoff overtime goal in NHL history, 12 seconds overtime. (With an assist to defenseman Jordan Leopold, who drove Andrew Ladd into Miikka Kiprusoff as Havlat shot the puck). The Blackhawks defeated the Calgary Flames, 3-2, to win Game One.
No. 2 Star: Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Great start for the Ducks in the Battle of California: Jonas Hiller makes 35 saves to shut out the No. 1-seeded San Jose Sharks, and Getzlaf factored in both goals for the 2-0 victory. His cross-ice pass to Scott Niedermayer resulted in a power-play goal in the third; later, Getzlaf left the penalty box and converted a Sharks' turnover for a goal on a rocket shot past Evgeni Nabokov (15 saves).
No. 3 Star: Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Tough call, considering Chris Osgood's admirable 20-save performance in the Detroit Red Wings' 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, as well as Phil Kessel's two goals and assist vs. the Habs. But the nod here goes to Chara, whose power-play blast with 8:45 left in the third gave Boston a lead over the Montreal Canadiens they wouldn't relinquish. Boston takes a contentious Game One, 4-2.
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Major penalty: Maxim Lapierre's classless antagonism of Kessel after his empty-net goal sparked a melee that turned the end of the Bruins/Habs game into a penalty fest.
Minor penalty: Power-play follies. The Blue Jackets go 0-for-5 against the Red Wings, and the Sharks were a humbling 0-for-6 that included a critical whiff late in the third against the Ducks.
Conn Smythe Watch: (The Top 10)
1. Martin Havlat, Blackhawks
2. Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers
3. Sidney Crosby, Penguins
4. Jonas Hiller, Ducks
5. Roberto Luongo, Canucks
6. Zdeno Chara, Bruins
7. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins
8. Zach Parise, Devils
9. Johan Franzen, Red Wings
10. Phil Kessel, Bruins
