NHL playoffs: Senators hold off Devils

Jason Spezza scored 90 seconds into the game, and Ottawa took a 4-0 first-period lead in a 5-4 victory over New Jersey on Thursday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal at East Rutherford, N.J.

Joe Corvo, Dean McAmmond, Dany Heatley and Wade Redden also scored for Ottawa.

Travis Zajac, Brian Gionta and Andy Greene scored for the Devils to cut the Ottawa lead to 4-3 early in the second period. Scott Gomez beat Senators goaltender Ray Emery in close later in the period but hit the post.

New Jersey played without captain Patrik Elias, who was sidelined with the effects of a lingering cold.

Sharks 2, Red Wings 0: At Detroit, Matt Carle and Mike Grier scored in a 24-second span midway through the first period and Evgeni Nabokov made 34 saves for San Jose in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal.

Nabokov’s shutout was his first this postseason and the fifth of his career in the playoffs. He was tied for second in the NHL with seven during the regular season.