HERSHEY, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats continue to live dangerously and it caught up to them in the opening game of the East Division semifinal series.
Center Kyle Wilson scored on a rebound midway through overtime as Hershey rallied past Albany, 4-3 on Saturday night before a spirited crowd of 7,651 at the Giant Center.
Right wing Jerome Samson provided the Rats with a 3-2 advantage with a goal at 7:13 of the third period, but the Bears drew even as former Albany captain Keith Aucoin finished off a pass from behind the net from Andrew Gordon at 13:16 to beat goalie Justin Peters.
Wilson followed with the game winner by converting on a rebound at 10:41 of overtime.
Gordon each finished with two goals and an assist for reigning Calder Cup champion Hershey and Samson scored twice for Albany.
Goalie Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves to remain unbeaten in the playoffs.
Peters stopped 44 of 48 shots faced to suffer his first loss in five starts in the postseason.
Hershey hosts Game 2 today at 5 and then the series shifts to Albany for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday, both at 7 p.m.