Eric Healey scored his second goal of the game 8:58 into overtime as Providence staved off elimination once again with a 5-4 victory in Portland on Thursday night.
The Bruins, who trailed the series three games to none, have won back-to-back overtime games by identical 5-4 scores to force a Game 6 back at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center tomorrow night.
Healey snapped the winning goal home off a rush during a Bruins power play in OT. Healey’s first goal came on a penalty shot in the second period.
Pascal Pelletier had a goal and an assist for Providence, and Tyler Redenbach and Jason MacDonald also scored.
Shane O’Brien and Zenon Konopka recorded a goal and an assist each for the Pirates, while Pierre Parenteau registered three assists.
Derek Gustafson made 32 saves, including 12 in the third period and five in overtime, for his second straight win.
The teams have played four straight one-goal game since Portland’s 6-0 win in the series opener.
Providence is just the 11th team in Calder Cup Playoff history to force a Game 6 after trailing a best-of-seven series, 3-0. Only two teams have managed to force a Game 7, and both of those – Rochester in 1960 and Adirondack in 1989 – completed the comeback with a fourth straight win.
HARTFORD 3, MANCHESTER 1
Chris Holt made 29 saves in his first career playoff appearance as Hartford battled to a 3-1 victory in Game 6 of the Atlantic Division semifinal series in Manchester on Thursday.
The Wolf Pack, who have trailed in the series three times, will host the deciding Game 7 at the Hartford Civic Center on Saturday night.
Holt, in his first season out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, got the start after Hartford’s 8-6 loss in Game 5, in which Al Montoya was injured and Robert Gherson allowed seven goals on 23 shots.
The 20-year-old Vancouver native stopped 12 shots in the first period and 10 in the third. Holt was 3-2-1 in nine appearances with Hartford during the regular season.
Colby Genoway, Greg Moore and Chad Wiseman scored for the Wolf Pack. Alexandre Daigle netted the lone Monarchs goal, his fourth of the series.
IOWA 5, MILWAUKEE 1
David Oliver scored twice during a four-goal third period as Iowa kept its inaugural season alive with a 5-1 win over Milwaukee at the Wells Fargo Arena.
It was the Admirals’ fourth straight loss over the last two postseasons when they’ve had a chance to close out a series.
Milwaukee still holds a 3-2 series lead, and will host Game 6 at the Bradley Center on Friday night.
Dan Hacker scored a goal in his second career AHL game, and veteran defensemen Patrick Traverse and Dan Jancevski also scored for the Stars.
Mike Smith finished with 36 saves in the Iowa cage, allowing only Simon Gamache’s fifth goal of the series.
GRAND RAPIDS 3, TORONTO 2
Darryl Bootland scored with 1:19 left in the third period to give Grand Rapids a 3-2 win over Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday.
The Griffins take a 3-1 series lead into Game 5, scheduled for Friday night at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.
Drew MacIntyre got the call after AHL All-Rookie goaltender Jimmy Howard was recalled by the parent Detroit Red Wings, and made 33 saves for the win in his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
Kent McDonell and Donald MacLean scored in the first period for Grand Rapids, who held onto the lead until Brad Leeb tied it with 2:07 left in regulation.
Bootland scored the winner 48 seconds later, on assists from Jiri Hudler and Derek Meech.
Jay Harrison also scored for the Marlies, and John Pohl recorded two assists.
