Flames Burn Red Wings in Overtime, 2-1

Marcus Nilson’s first career playoff goal at 2:39 of overtime Thursday night lifted Calgary to a 2-1 victory over Detroit in Game 1 of a Western Conference semifinal series at Detroit.

Calgary’s Robyn Regehr scored his first career playoff goal late in the second period to tie the score, 1-1.

Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff’s 28 saves lifted the Flames to their fourth consecutive road victory in the playoffs.

“It’s huge,” Kiprusoff said. “We’re playing the Detroit Red Wings.”

Curtis Joseph made 16 saves for Detroit, which had been 3-0 at home in the postseason.

On the winning goal, Martin Gelinas passed the puck from behind the net to Nilson, whose shot from the left circle got past Joseph’s glove.

“He made a good shot,” Joseph said. “I wish I would’ve had it.”

The Flames played their third consecutive overtime game. Calgary beat Vancouver in overtime in Game 7 of the first-round series after losing Game 6 in triple overtime. Detroit played its first overtime of the postseason after getting past Nashville in six games.

The Red Wings had four days of rest; Calgary had two.

Kiprusoff faced a lot of pressure from the high-powered Red Wings, but only one shot got past him.

“It seems like he’s always in good position,” Detroit’s Steve Yzerman said.

San Jose 5, Colorado 2 -- Patrick Marleau had his second three-goal game of the postseason and the Sharks scored three first-period goals and were never threatened in the Western Conference series opener at San Jose.

Marleau, the Sharks’ 24-year-old captain, scored San Jose’s opening goal and added two more in 94 seconds midway through the second, chasing shaky goalie David Aebischer.

Vincent Damphousse and Scott Hannan also scored in the first period.

Steve Konowalchuk and Peter Forsberg scored power-play goals for the Avalanche, which seemed surprised and overwhelmed by the Sharks’ aggression.

Colorado started several fights in the final two minutes of the third period.

Philadelphia 3, Toronto 1 -- Marcus Ragnarsson scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, leading the Flyers to a victory in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series at Philadelphia.

Tony Amonte and Simon Gagne also scored for Philadelphia, coming off four days rest after eliminating the New Jersey Devils in five games.

Alexander Mogilny scored for Toronto, which advanced with a victory over Ottawa on Tuesday.