This Date In Providence Bruins History: May 5

1999: After an initial 3-0 lead devolves into a 4-3 deficit, the P-Bruins force overtime in Game 1 of the New England Division Finals courtesy of Antti Laaksonen. After the first sudden-death period fails to produce a winner, late ECHL call-up John Spoltore inserts the walkoff goal less than two minutes into double-overtime, beating Hartford, 5-4.

This Date In Providence Bruins History: May 2

2000: The desperate Lowell Lock Monsters delete a 3-1 deficit, but Landon Wilson, Jason Krog and Joel Prpic spell the difference in the third period, wresting away a 6-3 win and a four-game sweep for the P-Bruins in the Atlantic Division Finals.

This Date In Providence Bruins History: May 1

1999: Eric Nickulas’ hat trick spells the difference in a 6-3 victory at the Worcester Centrum that helps the top dog P-Bruins knock off the Worcester IceCats and advance to the New England Division Finals against Hartford. Antti Laaksonen inserts the go-ahead goal with 7:05 to spare in regulation before Nickulas completes his night with the first dose of insurance, the second one coming off the stick of former IceCat Marquis Mathieu.

2001: In a seesaw seventh game, the P-Bruins win their fifth straight elimination game and knock off the host Worcester IceCats courtesy of Jeremy Brown’s overtime goal. The 3-2 upshot gives the P-Bruins three playoff series wins in as many all-time tries with Worcester and puts Providence in the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals for the third consecutive season.

2007: Pascal Pelletier (two goals, assist), David Krejci (playmaker hat trick) and Hannu Toivonen (36 saves) highlight a 6-3 win over Manchester in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals.

This Date In Providence Bruins History: April 30

2001: A full decade and change before Tim Thomas does it in Boston, John Grahame outduels Dwayne Roloson in epic fashion for a 1-0 victory in Providence. The Worcester goaltender blinks on one costly occasion when former IceCat Marquis Mathieu scores late in the first period for the deciding goal. With that, the P-Bruins force a seventh game against the regular-season champions for the New England Division playoff crown.

2005: The P-Bruins draw a 1-1 knot on the strength of Patrice Bergeron’s goal early in the third period. Moments later, Brad Boyes completes a two-point night with the eventual game-winning strike en route to a 3-1 victory at The Dunk that knocks off the regular-season champion Manchester Monarchs in six games.

This Date In Providence Bruins History: April 29

2007: For the second time in as many nights, the P-Bruins win an elimination game at the Hartford Civic Center, upsetting the Wolf Pack with a 5-4, Game 7 victory. Ben Walter collects a hat trick, Hannu Toivonen stops 40 out of 44 shots and Dennis Packard scores the clincher to set up a division finals date with Manchester.