With overtime looming in their playoff opener, the Albany River Rats answered the call in the final minute of regulation.
Center Nick Dodge scored two goals, including the game winner with 50.4 seconds remaining, to lift Albany past Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 4-3 on on Wednesday in Game 1 of an East Division semifinal series.
The Penguins had drawn even as Mark Letestu scored 2:52 into the third period and with rookie goalie Brad Thiessen pulled for an extra attacker, Nick Johnson evened at 18:38.
The Rats struck back as left wing Chris Terry sent a pass to Bryan Rodney, which deflected off the Albany defenseman's skate to Dodge, who tallied the deciding goal.
Goalie Justin Peters made 30 saves for Albany, which will host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Game 2 on Friday night at 7.
Albany's line of Dodge, Terry and Steven Goertzen combined for five points, with Terry contributing two assists.
Left wing Jacob Micflikier scored the game's first goal and assisted on McBain's tally for the second-seeded River Rats.
With the game deadlocked at one, the Rats cashed in on a rebound goal, as Dodge knocked in Terry's rebound at the top of the crease at 9:55.
Dodge and defenseman Jamie McBain each scored within a span of 36 seconds in the second period as Albany took a 3-1 advantage into the final frame.
McBain, reassigned to Albany from Carolina on Sunday, scored on a blast well outside the right faceoff circle which eluded rookie goalie Brad Thiessen for a 3-1 advantage at 10:31.
Micflikier scored 10:01 into the game for the Rats and Johnson countered withan unassisted goal at 12:26.
Thiessen stopped 34 of 38 shots in his first pro playoff start.