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AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Eliminate Pirates in Another Tight Contest

May 1, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


HERSHEY,Pa. - Ryan Stanton talliedthe game-winning and series-clinching goal in a 2-1 victory over the PortlandPirates on Sunday night at GIANT Center. The Bears came back from two series deficits and claimed the AtlanticDivision Semifinals three games to two.

Hershey would open the scoring for thefourth consecutive game. Hard workdown low by Liam O'Brien would work the puck free. He found Sean Collins with a pass to the lower right circle,from where Collins would fire a shot across the body of Mike McKenna and overhis glove at 14:19.

The Bears nearly added to their leadshortly afterward when Jakub Vrana placed a perfect saucer pass onto the stickof Travis Boyd from behind the net. Boyd lifted a wrist shot at the short side but the puck caught the rightgoal post.

Hershey would eventually get the leaddoubled on a line rush led by Vrana. From the right boards, Vrana found a trailing Stanton for a low slapperright through the pads of McKenna at 8:29.

Portland brought the heat in the thirdperiod and was rewarded for the effort. Mike Matheson aimed a slap shot into traffic from the left point. Wayne Simpson got a stick on the shotand redirected the puck inside the right post and behind Justin Peters at 2:51,giving Portland its first goal in just over five periods.

Portland put forth a desperate effortin the final 90 seconds with McKenna pulled in favor of a sixth attacker, but theBears held on for the win.

Peters stopped 23 shots to improve to3-1 in the postseason. McKennaturned away 21 of 23 shots and fell to 2-3 in going the distance. Hershey finished 0-for-4 on the powerplay and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

The Bears will face theWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Atlantic Division Finals and will playthe first two games at GIANT Center. Game one is set for Wednesday, May 4 and game two for Friday, May 6. Face-off both nights is at 7:00 PM.Tickets are available beginning Monday, May 2 at the GIANT Center box office,by calling (717) 508-BEAR, and online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: Ryan Stanton scored the firstand last Hershey goal in the series...Hershey did not allow a power play goal onhome ice in the series (14-for-14)...Hershey scored the first goal of the game inall three victories, and in four of the five games...Hershey won 13 games in theregular season scoring three or fewer goals, and the team won all three gamesin this series by doing so...Hershey improved to 14-4 on home ice inwinner-take-all games...The Bears scratched LW Paul Carey, G Adam Carlson, RWDustin Gazley, LW Dylan Margonari, LW Domenic Monardo and D Mike Moore...The Piratesscratched RW Chase Balisy, D Josh Brown, LW Rihards Bukarts, LW Lawson Crouse,C Steven Hodges, LW Dryden Hunt, C Juho Lammikko, LW Zac Lynch, LW JohnMcFarland, G Colin Stevens, LW Tony Turgeon and D Mackenzie Weegar.

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