Bobby Sanguinetti‘s goal 7:06 into the third period held up as the game-winner as Charlotte opened its Atlantic Division semifinal series with a 5-4 win in Providence on Saturday night.
Game 2 of the best-of-five tilt is set for Sunday afternoon.
Two of the AHL’s top defensive teams in the regular season combined to allow nine goals on 54 shots in Game 1.
Morgan Geekie scored twice for the Checkers and Tomas Jurco and Julien Gauthier added single goals. Nicolas Roy, Andrew Poturalski and Nick Schilkey each tallied two assists.
Anton Blidh and Jordan Szwarz notched a goal and an assist each for the Bruins, who stormed back from an early 2-0 deficit with three straight goals in the first period, then erased a 4-3 disadvantage early in the third.
Cooper Zech and Paul Carey also had goals for Providence.
Alex Nedeljkovic made 23 saves for Charlotte; Zane McIntyre turned aside 22 shots for Providence.
Atlantic Division Semifinals – Series “A” (best-of-5)
A1-Charlotte Checkers vs. A4-Providence Bruins
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 20 – Charlotte 5, PROVIDENCE 4
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 21 – Charlotte at Providence, 5:05
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 24 – Providence at Charlotte, 7:00
*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 26 – Providence at Charlotte, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 27 – Providence at Charlotte, 6:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern