Bruins take bite out of Sharks, lead series 3-2

PROVIDENCE 4, WORCESTER 3
Providence came out with a strong second period and held on for a 4-3 win over Worcester on Monday in Game 5 of the Atlantic Division Finals. Rookie Brad Marchand was one of four skaters to score for the Bruins, who snapped a two-game skid and took a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is set for Wednesday in Worcester.

With one more victory, Providence can advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2005.

The teams seemed poised for a scoreless opening period, but Worcester received a late power play and converted in the frame’s final minute. Defenseman Patrick Traverse took a pass in the slot from Dan DaSilva and fired it over the right shoulder of Providence netminder Tuukka Rask for a 1-0 lead.

Providence dominated the second period, outshooting the Sharks by a 19-7 margin and outscoring them 3-0.

The B’s tied it at 1-1 when Martin St. Pierre, skating in on a partial 2-on-1 break, snapped a wrist shot from right face-off dot. Worcester goaltender Thomas Greiss made the initial save, but St. Pierre tapped in his own rebound at 3:07 for his fourth goal of the playoffs.

Marchand put the Bruins on top with a power play goal at 10:55. He took a shot from slot that Greiss got a piece of but couldn’t stop from dribbling behind him and into the net.

Bruins captain Jeremy Reich then converted a crisp pass from Wacey Rabbit in the crease for his second goal of the series and third of the playoffs, making it a 3-1 game.

Worcester’s Jamie McGinn and Providence’s Levi Nelson scored 14 seconds apart midway through the third period, and Riley Armstrong brought the Sharks within 4-3 with an extra-attacker, power-play goal at 17:48. But Worcester could not find the equalizer.

Rask finished with 30 saves and improved to 7-3 this postseason.