Goat: After Ilya Bryzgalov took an overwhelming lead in the early voting for his shaky first-period play, Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury allowed four consecutive goals. He was flopping and out of position on Voracek's overtime goal and got no help from his defense.
Second wind: The Flyers needed to come out strong in the second period, down 3-0. Briere scored with 13:38 left and it was game on. The Flyers got their skating legs back and Bryz stopped fighting the puck on routine saves. After a dreadful first period, the Flyers served notice to the Pens that the series had officially begun.
Third chapter: Briere scored halfway through the third period, as the Flyers put something on the board that reflected their dominant play in the period.
Brayden Schenn scored on the Flyers' first power play at 12:23 to suck the life out of the building and the momentum out of the Pens.
Playoff hockey: Hockey fans know there is nothing as great as the playoffs. Then toss in overtime and it's the greatest.
Bloody Wednesday? All the talk coming into the series was about the bad blood between the teams. The game was tame, by playoff standards, with few shenanigans. That will change on Friday when the Penguins will be desperate for a win. By contrast, Wednesday night's Detroit-Nashville game was far nastier (we were working the TV clicker pretty well), with jousting and foul language at every stoppage.
What's next: Game 2 is Friday night in Pittsburgh. If this isn't a must-win for the Penguins, nothing is.
THREE STARS
1. JAKE VORACEK, Flyers: Scored winner at 2:23 of overtime, tapping the puck into an open net.
2. DANNY BRIERE, Flyers: Two goals and plenty of poise for king of the playoffs.
3. BRAYDEN SCHENN, Flyers: Scored tying goal in third period and hit every Penguin in sight.
