Bruins pull away from Canadiens in opener

Phil Kessel had two goals and an assist, and Zdeno Chara scored with 8:45 left to break a third-period tie and help lead the host Boston Bruins to a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday in the opener of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Tim Thomas stopped 26 shots for the Bruins, who are the top-seeded team in the East but haven’t gotten out of the first round in a decade.

Carey Price made 35 saves for Montreal.

Montreal and Boston have met an NHL-record 32 times in the playoffs, with the Canadiens winning 24 times, including last year.

Detroit 4, Columbus 1 -- Jonathan Ericsson was credited with the go-ahead goal for the host Red Wings with 6:39 left in the second period on a shot Manny Malhotra redirected into his own net trying to stop the puck with his glove. Chris Osgood made 20 saves, allowing only a goal by the Blue Jackets’ R.J. Umberger.

Chicago 3, Calgary 2 (OT) -- Martin Havlat scored 12 seconds into overtime and the host Blackhawks won their first playoff game in seven years. After tying it late in regulation, Havlat drove a wrist shot past Miikka Kiprusoff for the third-fastest overtime goal in playoff history.