PORTLAND

More than four hours after Game 3 began Rob Flick scored of an odd-man rush to give the Portland Pirates a 2-1 American Hockey League victory over the host Hershey Bears in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division semifinals Thursday Night.

The triple overtime contest snapped a 15 year franchise record by 64 seconds.

The win gives the Pirates a 2-1 edge in the best-of-five series, with Game 4 slated Saturday at 7 p.m. in Hershey.

Flick accepted the pass from Rob Schremp before one-timing the shot from the right-wing circle that beat Justin Peters at 3:10 of the third overtime period.

For the second straight game it was a goaltenders duel with the first period ending in a scoreless deadlock.

Nathan Walker broke the stalemate, converting on a nice feed from Dustin Gazley at 5:27 of the second period to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. That was the only goal Hershey slipped past Mike McKenna, as the netminder put on a show in shutting the Bears out over the final 77:43.

The Pirates had six powerplay opportunities in the frame but were unable find the back of the net. But, Portland found the equalizer in the third period after killing of a big 5-on-3 Hershey advantage after Jonathan Racine was called for hooking followed by a Corban Knight infraction for high-sticking.

In his first game since being reassigned by the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Greg McKegg beat two Hershey defenders before depositing the puck into the back of the net on a wrap-around shot to knot the game at 6:28 of the third period. Brett Olson collected his second playoff point with the second assist going to Brent Regner.

Two extra overtime periods and a combined 84 shots didn’t settle things. The Pirates found the back breaker in the third OT when Schremp feathered a saucer pass to Flick’s blade. The forward released the one-timer that banged off the inside right post and in, clinching the 2-1 Pirates’ win.

McKenna put on an impressive performance, backstopping 41 saves. Peters stopped 42 shots.