Cory Conacher scored the winning goal with 5:06 left in regulation to send the Syracuse Crunch to a 3-1 win over Providence and their second Eastern Conference championship in five years.
The Crunch eliminated the Bruins in five games to advance to the 2017 Calder Cup Finals.
Conacher, who added an empty-net goal in the game’s final minute to seal the victory, recorded 10 points in the last three games of the series and now leads the AHL with 20 points on the postseason.
Ben Thomas opened the scoring for Syracuse just 41 seconds into Game 5, his fourth playoff goal after scoring three times in 71 regular-season contests.
Mike McKenna (11-5) made 27 saves as the Crunch improved to 9-0 at home this postseason.
Chris Porter scored the only goal for the Bruins, and Malcolm Subban stopped 29 of 31 shots in his first start of the playoffs.
Eastern Conference Finals – Series “M” (best-of-7)
A4-Providence Bruins vs. N1-Syracuse Crunch
Game 1 – Fri., May 19 – Syracuse 6, PROVIDENCE 3 | Recap
Game 2 – Sun., May 21 – PROVIDENCE 2, Syracuse 1 (OT) | Recap
Game 3 – Wed., May 24 – SYRACUSE 5, Providence 4 | Recap
Game 4 – Fri., May 26 – SYRACUSE 7, Providence 2 | Recap
Game 5 – Sat., May 27 – SYRACUSE 3, Providence 1
