ALBANY, NY – It’s good to be Nick Lappin right now. And it’s good to be the Albany Devils following a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory to pull ahead 2-1 in a best-of-seven series against the Toronto Marlies. Lappin netted the game-tying goal with 21 seconds remaining and then scored the winner with 1:20 left in overtime Sunday at Times Union Center.

Lappin, who signed an ATO with the Devils after finishing his collegiate career at Brown University in March, first scored off a Damon Severson rebound in the dying seconds of regulation while the team skated shorthanded and with Scott Wedgewood on the bench for the extra attacker.

The deciding goal came after Brian O’Neill’s shot was kicked aside by Toronto netminder Antoine Bibeau whose team was on the penalty kill. After a couple of tries, Lappin was able to slide the puck under the goaltender’s paddle, erupting the Times Union Center.

The Devils were a force on special teams, scoring two shorthanded goals and a power-play tally. Rod Pelley opened the scoring at 8:33 of the first period, redirecting a Mike Sislo pass while skating 4-on-5.

Toronto’s response came from Josh Leivo at 3:50 of the second period and from William Nylander at 8:30 of the third frame.

Netminder Scott Wedgewood is now tied for second in the AHL with five postseason victories. He made 25 saves and watched his team own a 12-4 shot advantage during overtime. Bibeau finished with 36 saves, giving him 76 stops during the last two outings.

• The Essentials

Shots: Albany 39, Toronto 27

Power Play: Albany 1-4, Toronto 0-8

Three Stars: 1. Nick Lappin (ALB), 2. Scott Wedgewood (ALB), 3. William Nylander (TOR)

• Next Up

The two teams will meet again Tuesday for Game 4, which will be played at 7 pm at Times Union Center.