Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Tomas Fleischmann scored the game-winner in the early stages of the third period, as the Washington Capitals edged the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, in Game 1 of this star-studded Eastern Conference semifinal from a roaring Verizon Center.

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Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin celebrates his goal on the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of Game 1 in their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal hockey series in Washington, May 2, 2009.

Photograph by : Reuters

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It's a match-up boasting two of the most recognizable names in the NHL -- Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin, the last two players to capture the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

Ovechkin and Crosby's teammate, Evgeni Malkin, who led the league with 78 assists and 113 points during the regular season, are two of the three finalists for the prestigious award this year, with the indelible Ovechkin vying to become the first player to claim the honor in back-to-back seasons since Dominik Hasek accomplished the feat over a decade ago.

Ovechkin and David Steckel also lit the lamp for the second-seeded Capitals, who battled back from a three-games-to-one hole in the first round to vanquish the Rangers, the franchise's first playoff series triumph in 11 years. Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom both recorded two assists.

Unheralded rookie Simeon Varlamov continued his outstanding work between the pipes for the Southeast Division champs. Varlamov, who supplanted Jose Theodore after a less-than-stellar effort in Game 1 against New York, earned the victory with 34 saves, none bigger than a fabulous stop on Crosby late in the second period and with the score tied.

Crosby and Mark Eaton found the net for the fourth-seeded Penguins, who needed six games to eliminate Philadelphia in the opening round. Marc-Andre Fleury allowed three goals on 26 shots in defeat.

Game 2 of this best-of-seven set is scheduled for Monday in the nation's capital.