PHILADELPHIA – Robert Esche made 37 saves in his first postseason start, helping the Philadelphia Flyers beat the defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils 3-2 in Game 1 of their first-round series Thursday night.

Simon Gagne, Jeremy Roenick and Keith Primeau scored for the Flyers, who finished one point ahead of the Devils to win the Atlantic Division and earn home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Patrik Elias and Jan Hrdina scored New Jersey’s goals 35 seconds apart in the third period after the Flyers took a 3-0 lead.

Senators 4, Maple Leafs 2

TORONTO – Marian Hossa scored twice and Ottawa beat Toronto in the playoff series opener.

Bryan Smolinski and Wade Redden also scored for the Senators.

Lightning 3, Islanders 0

TAMPA, Fla. – Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 30 shots, and Tampa Bay shut down the New York Islanders to take the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series opener.

Fredrik Modin scored two goals, and little-used Andre Roy gave Tampa Bay an unexpected lift with an unassisted goal that snapped a scoreless tie against Rick DiPietro, New York’s young and confident goaltender.

Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis, the NHL scoring champion this season, was limited to just two shots.

– both in the third period – and misfired on his best scoring chance of the night when he hit the crossbar on a breakaway in the first period.

The Lightning will host Game 2 on Saturday.