P-Bruins take early edge with overtime triumph


PROVIDENCE 3, WORCESTER 2 (OT)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. … Providence captain Jeremy Reich snapped a wrist shot home from the right face-off dot at 6:19 of overtime to give the Bruins a 3-2 win over Worcester on Tuesday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals. The Bruins will take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 on May 6 in Worcester.

Reich’s tally came unassisted and was his second goal of the playoffs, both for game-winners. Providence improved to 18-8 all-time in overtime during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Worcester’s Frazer McLaren and Providence’s Jordan Knackstedt were assessed matching unsportsmanlike penalties just before the opening face-off, and Bruins forward Martin St. Pierre scored from the low slot on the ensuing 4-on-4 situation to make it a 1-0 game just 1:06 in.

The Bruins extended the lead to 2-0 on the man advantage at 5:55 of the second period as a result of a crisp passing play. St. Pierre sent the puck from the right wall to rookie Brad Marchand at the left circle, and Marchand faked to his backhand before slipping the puck into an open net behind Worcester goaltender Thomas Greiss.

But Worcester fought back to a draw on a pair of goals by rookie forward Jamie McGinn, who earlier in the day rejoined the team from parent-club San Jose.

With a power play midway through the second, McGinn redirected a Dan DaSilva pass in the slot past B’s goaltender Tuukka Rask to cut the deficit in half. McGinn, who tallied a team-high six goals in the regular-season series against Providence, then stuffed in a shot off a scramble in front of the net with 5:21 to play in regulation for the equalizer.

Rask was sharp in net for Providence, finishing with 35 saves to pick up his fifth consecutive victory.


Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A2-Providence Bruins vs. A4-Worcester Sharks
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Game 1 – Tue., Apr. 28 – PROVIDENCE 3, Worcester 2 (OT)
Game 2 – Wed., May 6 – Providence at Worcester, 7:05
Game 3 – Fri., May 8 – Worcester at Providence, 7:05
Game 4 – Sat., May 9 – Providence at Worcester, 7:05
*Game 5 – Mon., May 11 – Worcester at Providence, 7:05
*Game 6 – Wed., May 13 – Providence at Worcester, 7:05
*Game 7 – Thu., May 14 – Worcester at Providence, 7:05