P-Bruins win Game 1 of Eastern Finals

(WPRI) - The Providence Bruins defeated the Hershey Bears 3-2 Saturday evening at the Giant Center to take Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.

The P-Bruins got their goals from Jeff Penner, Jordan Knackstedt and Matt Marquardt.

The P-Bruins took a 1-0 advantage at the 8:03 mark of the opening period, while on the power play. Martin St. Pierre held the puck along the right boards and sent it into the corner for Brad Marchand. He found Penner in the left face off circle and Penner tallied his third goal of the season.

Providence went ahead 2-0 at the 16:19 mark, while on the power play. Peter Schaefer held the puck in the neutral zone and left it off for Zack Hamill, who crossed the blue line and fed Knackstedt down low. Knackstedt skated to the left side of the crease and slipped the puck into the net for his third goal of the playoffs. The P-Bruins took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Bears cut the lead in half at the 3:03 mark of the second period. Oscar Osala netted his third goal of the post season, while Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux recorded the assists.

Providence retook a two goal lead at the 8:28 mark. Schaefer had the puck along the left boards and fed Hamill in the left face off circle. Hamill put the puck on the net, which trickled through the five hole of Hershey net minder Michal Neuvirth. The puck did not cross the goal line until Marquardt tipped it into the net for his first goal of the playoffs.

Hershey once again cut the lead to one. Osala scored his second goal of the game and fourth of the playoffs, with Mathieu Perreault and Jay Beagle picking up the assists. Providence led 3-2 after two periods.

After a scoreless third period, the P-Bruins went on to the 3-2 victory.

Tuukka Rask stopped 30 of 32 shots for the P-Bruins, while Neuvirth made 25 saves for the Bears. The P-Bruins were 2-for-4 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

The P-Bruins return to action in the Eastern Conference Finals at the Giant Center on Sunday for Game 2 at 5:00 p.m.