WASHINGTON D.C. -- In a playoff series with the most polarizing athletes in the game, a rookie goaltender was the story of game one of the Caps-Pens series. The 21-year-old Simeon Varlamov saved 34 shots, advancing Washington to Game 2 with a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Tomas Fleischmann scored the tiebreaking goal to make it 3-2 with 18:14 remaining in the third period. That was enough to put the Caps passed the Pens in Game 1. Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin scored the other two goals. Semin's goal was his first of the playoffs after scoring 34 in the regular season.

Of course, "Sid the Kid" Crosby scored,which was his first conference semifinal goal in his career after not scoring versus the New York Rangers last year in the second round, but it was not enough for the defending Eastern Conference Champions. Mark Eaton also scored off a Evgeni Malkin pass, but the story of the game was the Pens horrific power play opportunities. The Pens went a demoralizing 0-for-6 on the power play. The team has struggled throughout the playoffs going 1-for-18 in the first-round playoff matchup verse the fifth seeded Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh coach told the Associated Press,"Our shot total was 36. That's something you like to see at the end of the game." "I think we could have added a few more. We had opportunities. We had chances to get some more goals. We didn't get enough to get the goals we needed to win, so we're going to try to get some more from the 36 shots."

Game 2 is back in Washington tomorrow night. The puck will drop at 7 ET p.m.