Bruins rally past Checkers in overtime to force Game 5 in AHL playoffs

The Charlotte Checkers season will come down to a “win or go home” Sunday matinee after the Providence Bruins rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory Friday night at Bojangles Coliseum.

Providence’s victory evened the best-of-five AHL conference semifinal series at 2-2.

Charlotte won the first two games of the series at Providence but the Bruins returned the favor with a pair of rallies in 3-2 victories.

Sunday’s winner will advance to a best-of-five Atlantic Division championship series against the winner of Saturday’s decisive fifth game between top-seeded Hershey and Lehigh Valley; Hershey won 6-4 on Friday to force a fifth game.

“When you get in the playoff, you have to be prepared for a long series,” Checkers coach Geordie Kinnear said. “We’re prepared for a long series.”

Friday’s result disappointed a partisan crowd of 5,777 in Charlotte.

Providence trailed 1-0 and 2-1 before scoring to force the sudden death overtime.

The Bruins tied the game with 14:51 left in the third period and then Patrick Brown’s shot 7 minutes, 8 seconds into the overtime period closed out the come-from-behind win.

Brown’s shot came after the Checkers had a close range shot stopped by goalie Brandon Bussi, who came on early in the game when Providence’s starter was injured defending a shot attempt.

Sunday’s finale is set for 3 p.m. at Bojangles Coliseum.

Three who made a difference

Ben Steeves, Charlotte: He tallied his third playoff goal to give the Checkers a 2-1 lead early in the third period.

Patrick Brown, Providence: He scored the game winner 7:08 into the overtime period on his third shot of the game.

Brandon Bussi, Providence: The backup came on to replace starter Michael DiPietro just over 2 minutes into Friday’s game after DiPietro sustained what appeared to be a significant left leg injury and was assisted from the ice. Bussi yielded two goals but also made 28 saves.

Notable

▪ Charlotte’s last advance past the second round came in 2019 when the Checkers won the Calder Cup championship with four playoff series wins. That title was Charlotte’s seventh hockey league championship since the sport debuted in the city in 1956.

▪ The chippiness that one might expect from a fourth game between teams in the last eight days was there from the outset. Three skirmishes broke out just 3 minutes in — and 30 seconds after Providence goalie Michael DiPietro was helped off the ice with a left leg injury — and continued throughout the game.

▪ Charlotte has had a balanced offensive attack in the series as Ben Steeves has three goals and William Skoog two to lead the Checkers and six others have one goal apiece..

They said it

“I thought it was a great hockey game by both teams. Give their goalie credit. He stopped a shot in traffic there in the overtime.” — Charlotte coach Geordie Kinnear.

This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 10:59 PM.