MANCHESTER, N.H. — Martins Karsums scored his first goal of the playoffs and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Providence’s second-year winger netted the game-winner 46 seconds into overtime, giving the P-Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Manchester Monarchs last night for a sweep of their best-of-seven, first-round AHL series. It was the third time a game was decided in overtime in the series and the third time the score was 3-2.

The P-Bruins advance to the Atlantic Division finals and will play the winner of the Hartford Wolf Pack-Portland Pirates series, with the schedule to be determined.

After a scoreless opening period, the Monarchs took a 1-0 lead at 14:18 of the second period. David Meckler tallied his first goal of the postseason, while John Zeiler and Oscar Moller recorded the assists. Manchester then made it 2-0 with 9.5 seconds left in the period. Brady Murray netted his first goal of the playoffs, with Marc-Andre Cliché and Matt Ryan grabbing the assists.

The resilient P-Bruins responded in the third period and cut the Monarchs lead in half at the 5:41 mark. With a delayed penalty coming, Providence was able to get an extra attacker on the ice. Sean Curry sent the puck from the point to Matt Hunwick at the left faceoff circle. He fed Pascal Pelletier on the other side of the ice and he scored his third goal of the playoffs from the right faceoff circle.

Providence tied the score at the 15:10 mark. Nate Thompson sent the puck to Jeff Hoggan down the left wing. He skated into the left faceoff circle and shot the puck past Monarchs goaltender Jonathan Bernier for his third goal of the playoffs.

In overtime, the Monarchs turned the puck over in their own end and the P-Bruins capitalized. Pelletier took the puck at the right point and sent it to Sean Curry, who put a shot toward the net. The puck was knocked aside but went to Karsums.P-Bruins

3

Monarchs

2

Next Game

TBA