Capitals 3, Bruins 1

WASHINGTON--A hush fell over the MCI Center when Peter Bondra limped off the ice midway through the second period. It seemed the Washington Capitals' perpetual run of injuries had hit a new low at exactly the wrong time.

"He said, "Coach, I broke my leg.'" coach Ron Wilson said. "I'm calloused to hearing things like that, because I've heard them far too often here. I kept my fingers crossed and hoped that it wasn't that bad."

It wasn't. Doctors said it was only a twisted ankle, and a roar rippled across the arena when the 52-goal scorer, the centerpiece of the Capitals' offensive threat, came back at the start of the third.

As it turned out, Bondra wasn't needed in that final period. Washington's tenacious defense and goaltender Olaf Kolzig held off Boston in a 3-1 victory in today's Game 1 of the first-round Eastern Conference series. But if he were lost for the series--and he's not sure he'll be back for Game 2--it would severely dampen the Capitals' hopes of breaking their run of playoff misery.

"If he's out for one game, it probably won't make much of a difference," defenseman Mark Tinordi said. "But over the series ..."

While Bondra's departure and return were very visible, it was the disappearance of the Bruins' leading scorer, Jason Allison, and the rest of the young Boston attack that made the difference in the game.

Allison, who had 83 points during the regular season, was held to just one shot by defenders Tinordi and Calle Johansson. Kolzig made 27 saves, and the only goal he allowed came off a teammate's skate as he outdueled his best friend Byron Dafoe, who had 24 saves.

Senators 2, Devils 1, OT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--Bruce Gardiner scored on a rebound at 5:48 of overtime and the Senators stunned the Devils, 2-1, yesterday.

Even though the Senators split four games with the Devils, few expected the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference to come into New Jersey's building and take the opener in the best-of-7 series.

Alexei Yashin also scored, and Damian Rhodes made 28 saves for the Senators, who will try to take a 2-0 lead here Friday night.

Doug Gilmour had forced the overtime by scoring with 3:24 left in regulation for the Devils, who had the best record in the East.

Janne Laukkanen stopped a pass around the board by Doug Bodger, and Brodeur blocked his shot from the right point. Gardiner got the rebound and flipped it over a diving Brodeur, who was under tremendous pressure in the third period and overtime as referee Paul Devorski called three straight penalties against New Jersey.

Sabres 3, Flyers 2