Calgary opens with 3-2 victory over Sharks

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Calgary Flames are off to a fine playoff start, and the San Jose Sharks can start worrying again.

Stephane Yelle scored two goals, Miikka Kiprusoff made 37 saves and the seventh-seeded Flames stunned the NHL's second-best regular-season team in their first-round opener, beating the Sharks 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Dion Phaneuf also scored a power-play goal for the Flames, who opened the best-of-seven Western Conference series with three opportunistic goals and a late defensive scramble to win a game largely controlled by the Sharks. Game 2 is tonight.

Ryane Clowe scored two goals as San Jose outshot Calgary 39-23, but the Flames generated three scores in the first 40 minutes and then held on.

Other games

Rangers 4, at Devils 1

In his first postseason game against the team he grew up with, Scott Gomez assisted on three of New York's goals against New Jersey.

Ryan Callahan surprised Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with a goal-scoring swoop around the net in the third period as the Rangers wrested away home-ice advantage.

At Penguins 4, Senators 0

Gary Roberts and Petr Sykora scored in the first period and the Penguins rode Marc-Andre Fleury's goaltending to a win over Ottawa in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Roberts had two goals and Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists. Pittsburgh takes a 1-0 lead into Game 2 on Friday night.

Avalanche 3, at Wild 2 (OT)

Joe Sakic tipped in a shot by Ruslan Salei midway through the first overtime period, Sakic's eighth career playoff goal in extra time, to send Colorado past Minnesota.

The goal came at 11:11 of OT and gave Colorado a 1-0 lead in this first-round series. Game 2 is Friday.

Minnesota right wing Mark Parrish, a former Seattle Thunderbird, left the game with a head injury after a run-in with Salei in the second period.

Note

• The Montreal Canadiens will likely start their playoff series against the Boston Bruins without injured captain Saku Koivu (foot).