Chicago captures home-ice advantage

Associated Press

SAN JOSE

Antti Niemi might finally be putting to rest all those questions about whether he is the Chicago Blackhawks’ weak link.

Niemi made 44 saves, Dustin Byfuglien scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:45 remaining in regulation to help Chicago get off to a fast start for a change this postseason by beating the San Jose Sharks 2-1 Sunday in the opener of the Western Conference final.

“He’s been good for us all year,” forward Kris Vertseeg said. “Everyone seemed to be doubting him except us. We’re confident in him. We have to give him a lot more help than we did tonight.”

Niemi stopped almost everything that came his way in his first career game against the Sharks, helping Chicago kill four of five power plays including a 6-on-4 advantage in the closing minute. That snapped a run of four straight series-opening losses for Chicago.

Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks, who will try to take a 2-0 series lead on Tuesday night in San Jose. Chicago improved to 6-1 on the road this postseason.

Flyers 6, Canadiens 0

PHILADELPHIA

James van Riemsdyk, Danny Briere and Simon Gagne scored in a span of 9:23 in the second period against playoff star Jaroslav Halak, and the Philadelphia Flyers routed the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference finals opener.

There would be no comeback necessary this time for the surging Flyers, who rebounded from a 3-0 series hole against the Bruins and a three-goal deficit in Game 7 in Boston on Friday night.

Philadelphia has won five straight overall and is 5-1 in the playoffs in front of its orange-clad crowd.

Halak was easily outplayed by Flyers fill-in goalie Michael Leighton, who is unbeaten since replacing the injured Brian Boucher in Game 5 of Philadelphia’s win over Boston. Leighton made 27 saves in his first NHL postseason shutout.

Game 2 of the NHL’s first final four matchup between a No. 7 and No. 8 seed, will be Tuesday night in Philadelphia.