NHL PLAYOFFS | Thursday’s games

Red Wings 3, Predators 1

DETROIT— Henrik Zetterberg broke a tie at 6:54 of the third period and added an empty-net goal, lifting Detroit over Nashville in Game 1 of the first-round series.

Dominik Hasek, playing in his 116th playoff game, made 19 saves for the top-seeded Wings and Dan Ellis stopped 37 shots for the Predators before being pulled with just over a minute left.

Detroit’s Johan Franzen scored in the first period and Nashville’s Jordin Tootoo tied it late in the second.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Detroit.

A couple minutes after Nashville’s Vernon Fiddler hit a post on a shot in the third period, the Red Wings’ 90-point stars combined to break a tie and energize Joe Louis Arena.

Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk prevented Shea Weber from clearing the puck to set up the tiebreaking goal. Then, Datsyuk made a cross-ice pass from the left circle to perfectly set up Zetterberg’s one-timer that hit the back of the net before Ellis could slide over or get his glove on it.

Ellis kept the Predators in the game, though, by making 26 saves in the first two periods.

Canadiens 4, Predators 1

MONTREAL — Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn scored goals 1:28 apart in the opening minutes of their playoff debuts, and Montreal remained perfect against Boston this season.

Carey Price also made his playoff debut, stopping 17 shots for Montreal, which finished first overall in the Eastern Conference with 104 points, in large part thanks to sweeping eight games against the Bruins.

Bryan Smolinski and Tom Kostopoulos also scored for the Canadiens.

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas stopped 28 shots in his first playoff game and Shawn Hnidy scored for Boston in the first period.

Montreal will host Game 2 of the best-of-seven series Saturday night.

Shane Hnidy scored in the first to draw Boston within 2-1 after Sergei Kostitsyn opened the scoring 34 seconds in and Andrei Kostitsyn gave the Canadiens a two-goal lead at 2:02.

Smolinski, who debuted with Boston in the 1992-93 season, scored 5:26 into the second to restore Montreal’s two-goal lead at 3-1.

It was Smolinski’s 23rd playoff goal in 112 playoff games, his first with the Canadiens.

Associated Press