Savard scores winner for Bruins in OT

BOSTON - In the jubilation of his overtime goal, Marc Savard tossed the stick he used for the game-winner into the stands.

He was surprised to find it back on the ice when he went back out for a postgame curtain call.

"I thought maybe my head - something's wrong here," said the Boston Bruins forward, who missed the last 18 games of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs because of a concussion.

"I thought it was a treat for somebody. So, thanks for giving it back."

In his first game in almost two months, Savard scored on a delayed penalty 13:52 into overtime yesterday to give the Bruins a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"It's been a whirlwind for me. Obviously, I went through a lot of tough days," said Savard, who received a big cheer for his first shift. "When I got out there, there was a little water in my eyes at first. The crowd treated me great. My teammates were great with me all day. And I just wanted to fit in . . . I guess you can't script it any better."

Tuukka Rask stopped 32 shots for Boston, Dennis Wideman had three assists, and Miroslav Satan and Patrice Bergeron each had a goal and an assist. Brian Boucher stopped 41 shots, and Mike Richards had a goal and two assists for the Flyers.

But the star was Savard.

"Any time a guy steps into your lineup and hasn't played in two months and scores the game-winner you've got to take it with a smile," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "I guess it makes for some good writing, doesn't it?"

Bruins left wing Marco Sturm left the game during the first shift, favoring his right leg and did not return.