*Sorry for the lack of photos! Hoping to get permission eventually.*
After advancing to the Calder Cup Finals when Garrett Roe scored the overtime winner against the Cleveland Monsters on June 12th, the Bears unfortunately took a 4-3 loss at home for Game 1 of the Finals. It had been a close game, Hendrix Lapierre pulled Hershey back to within one to attempt a comeback late in the third period. The Bears will be at home to host the Coachella Valley Firebirds on June 16th, and will hopefully tie the series.
Bears Lineup:
Snively - Lapierre - Frank
Limoges - Huntington - Dube
Miroshnichenko - Roe - Vecchoine
Trineyev - Sutter - Rybinski
Haman Aktell - McIlrath
Massie - Priskie
Osipov - Day
Shepard
Stevenson
Bears Starting Lineup:
Trineyev - Sutter - Rybinski
Haman Aktell - McIlrath
Shepard
Firebirds Starting Lineup:
Studenic - Hayden - Shore
Fleury - Olofsson
Driedger
Joe Snively opened the scoring for his third goal of the playoffs early into the first period at 18:45. His centering feed caromed off a player's skate on the Firebirds on a rush with both Ethen Frank and Hendrix Lapierre, going past Chris Driedger. Coachella Valley tied it with a shorthanded breakaway at 13:26 by John Hayden. Ryan Winterton put the Firebirds in the lead later into the first for their first lead of the game.
Ryan Winterton struck again for Coachella Valley to give them a 3-1 lead with 10:11 left to play in the middle frame. Cutting the Firebird's lead, Hardy Haman Aktell pulled Hershey within one soon after the goal by Winterton at 7:09. Both Jimmy Huntington and Riley Sutter earned the assists on Haman Aktell's goal. However, the Firebirds' responded fast when John Hayden put in his second goal of the game at 4:49 of the second.
Late into the third, Hendrix Lapierre pulled the Bears back within one goal to hopefully spark a comeback. Joe Snively had found Lapierre at the right circle with little time remaining in regulation for his fifth goal of the playoffs. Pierrick Dube had earned the secondary assist on Lapierre's goal, which ended with a 4-3 final.
Notes:
- Chase Priskie is in the lead, leading all defensemen in the league in playoff scoring with 12 points (two goals, 10 assists).
- In the 85 times the Calder Cup has been contested, the team who wins Game 1 has gone on to win the Cup 63 times (74.1%)
- The Coachella Valley Firebirds lead the league with 3.58 goals scored per game... the Bears are in third with 3.43.
- Both the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Hershey Bears are similar 9-0 when leading after two periods.
Calder Cup Finals Schedule:
- Game Two: June 16th, GIANT Center
- Game Three: June 18th, Acrisure Arena
- Game Four: June 20th, Acrisure Arena
- *If Necessary Game Five: June 22nd, Acrisure Arena
- *If Necessary Game Six: June 24th, GIANT Center
- *If Necessary Game Seven: June 26th, GIANT Center
Well, that was a depressing beginning to the Calder Cup Playoffs. I definitely wasn't expecting this. Hopefully, it turns right back around real quick.
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