one on a short-handed penalty shot in the second period -- and the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs went on to defeat the Boston Bruins 4-1 Thursday night in the opener of a best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

Nicklas Backstrom scored two of Washington's three first-period goals, and the Capitals held off a late Carolina rally for a 4-2 victory over the visiting Hurricanes in Game 1 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series Thursday night.

Mike Smith stopped all 26 shots he faced to earn the shutout, and Matthew Tkachuk scored twice as the host Calgary Flames beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 in the first game of their opening-round Western Conference playoff series Thursday night.