PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Pirates struck for two goals in the third period last night, then held on for a 3-2 victory over the Providence Bruins, their third straight, to take a 3-2 lead in the Atlantic Division Finals.

The series returns to Providence for Game Six at 7:05 Friday night.

After a scoreless opening period, the P-Bruins took a 1-0 lead at the 8:45 mark of the second period, while on the power play. T.J. Trevelyan sent the puck through the neutral zone to Pettrei Nokelainen cutting down the right wing. From the corner he sent the puck toward the goal and it went off a body in front and into the net. For Nokelainen it was his fourth goal of the post-season.

The Pirates tied the game at one at the 11:29 mark. Joe Callahan tallied his first goal of the playoffs with Geoff Platt and Darryl Bootland getting the assists. The game went into the second intermission tied at one.

In the third period, Portland took its first lead of the game at the 1:33 mark. Bobby Ryan netted his fifth goal of the post-season with Drew Miller recording the lone assist.

The Pirates grabbed a two-goal advantage at the 6:46 mark, while on the power play. Platt tallied his fourth goal of the playoffs, while Stephen Dixon and Ryan had the assists.

Providence cut the lead to one at the 11:46 mark, while on the power play. Martin Karsums scored from just outside the left post, his sixth goal of the postseason. Pascal Pelletier and Vladimir Sobotka recorded the assists. The P-Bruins were unable to tie the game up late in the third as the Pirates were awarded a late power play with 1:45 left in the game. Portland went on to the 3-2 victory.

Tuukka Rask stopped 20 of 23 shots for the P-Bruins, while Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 30 saves for the Pirates. The P-Bruins went 2-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Tickets for Friday night’s game can be obtained by calling the P-Bruins’ ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or by logging on at providencebruins.com.