Derek Roy scored twice in the final 5:37 of regulation, capping a four-goal third period and giving Rochester a 4-2 win over Manitoba in Game 1 of the North Division Final on Wednesday night.
It was the fifth win in as many tries this postseason for the Americans, who have come from behind to win all five games.
Jeff Heerema and Ryan Kesler had given the Moose a 2-0 lead heading into the third period, but David Cullen and Daniel Paille scored 11 seconds apart to tie the game at 2-2.
Roy’s game-winner came nearly seven minutes later on a power play with Josh Green serving a penalty for cross-checking. He added an empty-net tally with 43 seconds on the clock.
Rochester has now outscored its opponents 13-2 in the third period this postseason. The Amerks had three power play opportunities in the final frame of Game 1, and scored on each.
Ryan Miller (5-0) made 24 saves on the night, while Wade Flaherty, who was working on a shutout with less than 13 minutes to play, finished with 20 saves.
PHILADELPHIA 4, WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 1
Jon Sim recorded a goal and two assists to lead Philadelphia to a 4-1 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Game 1 of the East Division Final on Wednesday night.
Jeff Carter added a goal and an assist, and Mike Richards scored a goal in his professional debut. Carter and Richards were both drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
Antero Niittymaki made 18 saves on the night, his shutout bid spoiled by Ryan Whitney with 3:20 left in regulation.
Sim, who scored 37 goals in the regular season, had just two points in the first round against Norfolk before tallying three points on Wednesday.
Andy Chiodo, who backstopped the Penguins to four straight wins and an upset of Binghamton in the division semifinals, allowed three goals on 15 shots and was replaced by Marc-Andre Fleury at the 13:01 mark of the second period.
CHICAGO 5, CINCINNATI 2
If a seven-day layoff slowed down Chicago’s momentum after a five-game win over Houston in the first round, it certainly didn’t show in Game 1 of the West Division Final.
Karl Stewart scored twice to lead the Wolves to a 5-2 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday night.
Derek MacKenzie and Lonny Bohonos had a goal and an assist apiece and Steve Maltais added two assists for Chicago, while Kari Lehtonen made 27 saves, improving to 20-3-0 in his last 23 decisions.
Ilya Bryzgalov, who backstopped the Mighty Ducks to three straight wins in their series comeback over Milwaukee, allowed three goals on eight shots and was replaced 5:31 into the second period by Frederic Cassivi.
