NHL Playoffs : Nordiques Beat Flyers in OT on Stastny Goal

Peter Stastny is finally getting to play his favorite game--wide-open hockey in overtime.

The Quebec center scored his second consecutive overtime game-winner Sunday night, leading the Nordiques to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the opener of their Stanley Cup semifinal series.

Game 2 is Tuesday night at Le Colisee in Quebec.

Stastny scored at 6:20 with the teams playing four to a side, giving the Nordiques’ their fourth overtime playoff victory.

“There was lots of skating out there tonight,” he said. “There was no hooking and holding all the time like against Montreal. There was not as much body contact. I like this kind of hockey.”

Stastny, whose overtime shot won the quarterfinal series against Montreal Thursday night, scored Sunday night on a 50-foot slapshot that beat Philadelphia goalie Pelle Lindbergh.

“The puck was bouncing a bit when I hit it,” Stastny said. “It was difficult to handle because it was not flying flat. It started descending, hit the crossbar and went in.”

The winning goal came after Quebec goalie Mario Gosselin made two big overtime saves.