PROVIDENCE 3, MANCHESTER 2 (OT)
Martins Karsums scored just 46 seconds into overtime to give Providence a 3-2 victory over Manchester on Monday at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The league-leading Bruins completed a four-game sweep of the Monarchs in the Atlantic Division semifinals and became the first team to advance to the second round of the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs.
After a scoreless first period, the Monarchs grabbed the lead at 14:18 of the second on a goal by David Meckler. Brady Murray extended the lead to 2-0 at 19:50.
But the Bruins came back to tie it in the third period. Pascal Pelletier netted his third of the playoffs at 5:41, and Jeff Hoggan tallied the equalizer at 15:10, also his third marker of postseason play.
The game remained deadlocked at 2-2 until Karsums’ game-winner early in overtime. It moved Providence to 15-2 in postseason overtime games since 1999, including seven consecutive wins.
Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask earned the victory with 22 saves on 24 shots.
The Bruins advance to the Atlantic Division finals for the third time in the last four years and will take on either Portland or Hartford next. The Pirates lead their series against the Wolf Pack, 3-1, with Game 5 set to be played in Hartford on Tuesday.
SAN ANTONIO 3, TORONTO 2
San Antonio netted three goals in the second period and held on for a 3-2 win over visiting Toronto in Game 3 of their North Division semifinal at the AT&T Center.
David Spina, Jon DiSalvatore, and Bill Thomas all tallied goals for the Rampage, who took a 2-1 edge in the best-of-7 series.
San Antonio went 2-for-7 on the power play and is now 5-for-15 (33.3%) for the postseason. Rampage goaltender Josh Tordjman picked up the victory with 32 saves and also garnered an assist on the game-winning goal by Thomas.
Brent Aubin and Jay Harrison scored for the Marlies, who both opened and closed the game’s scoring.
The teams are back at the AT&T Center for Game 4 on Wednesday and Game 5 on Friday.
