PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Jozef Balej scored on the power play in the second overtime as the Hartford Wolf Pack edged the Portland Pirates 2-1 in the American Hockey League.

The win gave Hartford a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Atlantic Division Semifinal series.

The game was tied 1-1 after both teams scored less than half a minute apart in the first period.

Portland briefly led 1-0 when Jakub Cutta took a cross-ice pass from Alexander Semin and scored from the left circle at 16:41. Hartford tied it 26 seconds later when Benoit Dusablon wrapped around the left post and slipped the puck past Maxime Ouellet.

After three scoreless periods, the game-winner came on a power play, after Colin Forbes was sent off the ice for a five-minute major high-sticking penalty at 6:00 of the second overtime.

Balej knocked in Chad Wiseman’s rebound at 8:28.

Hartford goalie Jason LaBarbera stopped 43 shots; Ouellet made 30 saves.

AP-ES-04-23-04 2335EDT