Manitoba battled back from a two-goal deficit in the third period, and Jeff Heerema scored 10:22 into overtime to give the Moose a 5-4 win over Rochester in Game 3 of the North Division Final on Monday night.
Lee Goren (2g, 1a), Josh Green (1g, 2a) and Peter Sarno (3a) had three points apiece for Manitoba, which won its sixth straight on home ice to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Heerema and Ryan Kesler finished with a goal and an assist each.
Both teams had golden opportunities to win the game prior to the deciding goal. Rochester spent the last 4:59 of regulation on a power play after Manitoba’s Alexandre Burrows was whistled for a high-sticking major, and the Moose were given a two-man advantage for 1:59 at the start of overtime when Brandon Smith‘s high-sticking minor was compounded by an Amerks bench penalty at the 20:00 mark of the third period.
Derek Roy scored twice for the Americans, who were outshot 21-6 during the third period and overtime.
Game 4 is Wednesday in Winnipeg.
CHICAGO 5, CINCINNATI 2
Cory Larose‘s hat trick on Monday led Chicago to a 5-2 win over Cincinnati and moved the Wolves one big step closer to reaching the Western Conference Final.
Chicago has opened up a 3-0 series lead over the Mighty Ducks, and will go for the sweep on Wednesday night at Cincinnati Gardens.
Larose scored once in each period as the Wolves won their sixth game in a row and brought an end to the Ducks’ 10-game home winning streak.
J.P. Vigier‘s goal early in the second period have Chicago a 3-1 lead and chased starting goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from the Cincinnati net after allowing three goals on five shots.
Brad Larsen recorded three assists and Michael Garnett made 32 saves in his second consecutive appearance in place of an injured Kari Lehtonen.
