Providence scored three quick goals midway through the first period – including two shorthanded markers on the same minor – and opened the Atlantic Division Finals with a 3-1 win in Hershey on Saturday night.
The Bears host Game 2 on Sunday evening (5 p.m. ET), still looking for their first home win of the postseason (0-3).
Austin Czarnik netted his first goal of the playoffs 10:08 into the game to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead, then Colby Cave and Jake DeBrusk scored 56 seconds apart while Providence was skating down a man to open up a three-goal cushion.
That score stood until Nathan Walker spoiled Zane McIntyre‘s shutout bid with 2:26 remaining in the third.
McIntyre (4-2) finished the night with 24 saves; Pheonix Copley (3-3) stopped 19 of 22 shots in defeat.
Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A3-Hershey Bears vs. A4-Providence Bruins
Game 1 – Sat., May 6 – Providence 3, HERSHEY 1
Game 2 – Sun., May 7 – Providence at Hershey, 5:00
Game 3 – Thu., May 11 – Hershey at Providence, 7:05
Game 4 – Fri., May 12 – Hershey at Providence, 7:05
*Game 5 – Sun., May 14 – Hershey at Providence, 3:05
*Game 6 – Tue., May 16 – Providence at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 7 – Wed., May 17 – Providence at Hershey, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
Czarnik goes bar down on a breakaway to net the @AHLBruins‘ first goal of Round 2. #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/N9w8LijPcE
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 6, 2017
