Marc Savard's OT goal lifts Bruins over Flyers in Game 1

You could not write a better script to this game: Marc Savard returns to game action after being sidelined for almost 2 months with a concussion and then gets to be the game's hero with a game-winner in overtime.

Marco Sturm went down hard and left the game with a lower body injury in the first minute of the game after finishing his check on Mat Carle and hitting the boards awkwardly with his leg. He did not return to the game.

With Sturm down the tunnel to be looked at by the training staff, Steve Begin jumped up to join Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi in Sturm's spot for a shift. Begin connected with his temporary linemates for the game's first goal at 2:39 of the first period. Bergeron had the puck behind the net and fed it out front in the slot for Begin, who beat Brian Boucher on the stick side. Mark Recchi picked up a secondary assist on the goal.

The Bergeron/Recchi line (this time with Daniel Paille in Sturm's spot) struck again to make it 2-0 at 12:54 of the first period on a goal from Patrice Bergeron. Patrice Bergeron won an offensive face-off at the right circle back to Dennis Wideman. Wideman fired a slapper from the point and Patrice Bergeron went to the net and cleaned up Wideman's rebound with a backhander for his 3rd goal of the playoffs.

The Flyers got on the board when Ryan Parent's slapper from the point got past Tuukka Rask with traffic in front at 7:38 of the second period. Mike Richards and Aaron Asham picked up helpers on Parent's first career playoff tally.

The Bruins went on a power play midway through the second period following a scrum that sent Marc Savard, Daniel Carcillo, and Mike Richards to the box for roughing. Miroslav Satan found the back of the net on the ensuing power play. Johnny Boychuk shot's was blocked by Braydon Coburn in front and bounced out to the right circle, where Satan hammered the puck past Boucher to re-gain their 2-goal lead at 3-1 with 8:17 left in the middle frame.

The Flyers pulled to with in one with a power play goal from Chris Pronger at 15:48 of the second period with Adam McQuaid in the box for hooking. Mike Richard won an offensive zone draw back to Kimmo Timonen, who slid the puck to Pronger. Pronger skated to the right point and ripped a slap shot that beat Tuukka Rask stick side.

David Krejci made it 4-2 with 12:35 left in the third period. Krejci picked up a puck in front of the net after Miroslav Satan's misfired shot from the left circle trickled down to Krejci all alone in front. Krejci waited for Boucher to commit on a shot fake and tucked the puck past the Philly goalie for his 4th goal of the postseason.

Mike Richards put home a rebound with 7:23 left in the third period to make it 4-3.

The Flyers evened it up at 4-4 with 3:22 left in the third period. Daniel Briere skated coast to coast and split Dennis Wideman and Matt Hunwick to break in alone on Rask. Briere's backhand attempt was stopped by Rask, but Briere roofed the rebound to make it 4-4 late in the third period and ultimately forced overtime.

The Flyers nearly scored the game-winner with just seconds left in the third period. Tuukka Rask had to make a diving poke check after Darren Powe was alone in front after collecting a fat rebound off of a shot by Aaron Asham.

After 13:52 of overtime hockey that featured some great chances by both teams, Marc Savard sent the Bruins Faithful home happy when he one-timed a bouncing puck from the right point. Dennis Wideman pinched in at the left point to keep the puck in at the right point and Savard slapped at a bouncing puck that beat Brian Boucher up high.

Notes:

- Marc Savard got a loud ovation when he stepped on the ice for his first shift. Savard was a non-factor for most of the game, but came up big in OT. Savard logged 15:16 of ice time.

- The Bruins have not released any info on Marco Sturm's injury, but I get the feeling that he could be missing some significant time. Sturm will be re-evaluated on Monday.

- Steve Begin's goal was his first career playoff goal in 30 postseason appearances.

- Vladimir Sobotka left the game in the first period after crashing into the Philly net with Ryan Parent. He was back on the ice for the second period, but didn't log much time. According to John Bishop of BostonBruins.com, Sobotka suffered an upper body injury, but is not expected to miss any time.

- Emotions started to boil over midway through the second period when Marc Savard and Daniel Carcillo had a little pushing match and Carcillo placed his hands around Savard neck, which obviously drew a crowd.

- Early in the game, Brian Boucher looked like he was having flashbacks of allegedly having beers dumped on him in Boston as a kid. First, I doubt Boucher's story. Not because I doubt that someone can be that much of an a-hole, but when was the last time you saw a Bruins fan waste beer? Secondly, Brian Boucher should have been taken away by social services. What kind of unfit parent lets their kid go to Boston Garden in a Habs jersey?

- Either Chris Pronger has no testosterone or he spits in the bearded face of tradition.

- Both goalies made some spectacular saves in overtime to keep their team alive.

- Tuukka Rask made 32 saves, while Brian Boucher made 41 stops.

- Dennis Wideman recorded 3 assists.

- The Bruins have a new ad campaign that is driving the ladies in Philly wild.

- Marc Savard threw his stick into the stands at the end of the game as "a gift to the fans", but the fan who got it threw it back onto the ice.

- For more on today's game from a Flyers' fan perspective, check out Broad Street Hockey

- Game 2 is Monday night at 7:00 (Versus).