NHL: Washington 3, Pittsburgh 2

WASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- A third-period goal from Tomas Fleischmann Saturday lifted Washington to a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal.

Fleischmann's second goal this post-season snapped a 2-2 tie at 1:46 of the third following assists by Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin.

Rookie netminder Simeon Varlamov recovered after yielding Sidney Crosby's fifth goal in this year's playoffs to finish with 34 saves on 36 shots.

Dave Steckel and Alexander Ovechkin (power play) scored first-period goals for the Capitals, who were playing a second-round contest for the first time since 1998.

Mark Eaton also scored once, while goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was beaten three times on 26 shots for the Penguins, who pressured Varlomov with 11 of the game's first 13 shots, but scored just once.

Game 2 is Monday night in Washington.