CHICAGO — Tomas Kopecky scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 6-5, in the Stanley Cup opener last night.

Kopecky, who had been a scratch the previous five playoff games and was in the lineup because of an injury to Andrew Ladd, scored from the left side with a sharp-angled shot that beat backup goalie Brian Boucher at 8:25 of the third.

"They came out strong, they were playing really physical," Chicago forward Kris Versteeg said. "We had to match them, and once we did that, I think we did well."

Game 2 is tomorrow night at the United Center.

"You lose the first game of the Stanley Cup finals and it's hard to sit here and thumb through the positives right now," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said. "We'll take a look at it tonight and tomorrow. We'll be ready to go."

Troy Brouwer scored two goals, the second putting the Blackhawks ahead 5-4 in the second period and prompting the Flyers to replace starter Michael Leighton with Boucher.

Dave Bolland had a short-handed and Patrick Sharp and Versteeg also scored for Chicago.