PROVIDENCE — The Providence Bruins got off to a good start in the AHL playoffs, defeating the Manchester Monarchs, 3-2, in overtime last night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on a goal by Pascal Pelletier.

The P-Bruins got their other goals from Wacey Rabbit and Jeff Hoggan.

Providence leads the best-of-seven Atlantic Division semifinal series, 1-0.

The P-Bruins continue the playoffs at home tomorrow night for Game Two against the Monarchs at 7:05.

The Monarchs opened the scoring at the 14:47 mark. Petr Kanko tallied his first goal of the playoffs, with Davis Brewiske and John Zeiler getting the assists.

In the second period, the P-Bruins tied the game while short-handed at the 9:48 mark.

Manchester tried working the puck to the point and Martins Karsums stole it and skated up ahead, giving the P-Bruins a 2-on-1 advantage.

Karsums passed to Rabbit, who netted his first goal of the playoffs. The game went into the second intermission tied at 1-1.

The P-Bruins took their first lead of the game at the 6:16 mark of the third period. Nate Thompson held the puck along the boards and sent it behind the net for Chris Collins.

Collins found Hoggan in the slot, and Hoggan scored his first goal of the playoffs.

Manchester tied the game at the 9:30 mark while on the power play. Matt Moulson netted his first playoff goal of the season while David Meckler and Teddy Purcell had the assists.

The game went into overtime tied at 2-2. In the extra period, the P-Bruins scored the game-winner at the 9:01 mark.

Karsums picked up the puck behind the net and sent it in front to Byron Bitz, who backhanded the puck to Pelletier, and Pelletier scored from the slot.

Goalie Tuukka Rask stopped 25 of 27 shots for the P-Bruins while Jonathan Bernier made 34 saves for the Monarchs.

The P-Bruins went 0-for-5 on the power play and were 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.