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AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Open Calder Cup Finals Tonight

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


Two weeks to the day after ending the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' postseason run, the Hershey Bears Hockey Club had another team with its back against the wall - for the second time in the series. The regular- season champion Toronto Marlies had three straight games at Ricoh Coliseum with which to work to get back into the Eastern Conference Finals, which they trailed two games to none. But Hershey had other ideas. The Marlies would win one elimination game on the homestand, but succumb in Sunday's game five.

Last Wednesday, the Bears trailed 2-1 after one period of play in game three. But instead of taking that lead and running, the Marlies fell flat, allowing seven unanswered goals in Hershey's 8-2 victory. Zach Sill and Jakub Vrana each scored twice, while the Bears' special teams effort was about as perfect as can be with two shorthanded goals, a six-for-six penalty kill and one power play goal. Starting goaltender Antoine Bibeau would allow four goals on 18 shots, and was pulled in favor of Garret Sparks - who also would allow four goals on just 11 shots.

Two nights later, Bibeau would get the start once again, and this time the Marlies played smothering hockey with a strong defensive effort. Hershey managed just 18 shots on goal in the game - a team postseason low - and Bibeau knocked them all away, helping the hosts to a 5-0 victory. William Nylander scored goals late in the first and second periods, and the game was very much still within reach for the Chocolate and White. But the Bears would get into penalty trouble, and the Marlies' power play - held scoreless on 10 opportunities heading into the game - struck for three goals in a span of just under nine minutes. Capping the night off was Nylander, who finished a hat trick with 4:03 left to play.

Hershey had another chance to end the series in Sunday afternoon's game five. Jakub Vrana would be awarded a penalty shot while the Bears worked their first power play of the night, but Bibeau - back between the pipes - turned the chance aside. Liam O'Brien would eventually give the Bears a 1-0 lead, one that held at the intermission. Two early goals in the middle frame would eventually prove to be enough for Hershey, as Christian Djoos scored and then helped set up Nathan Walker's first goal of the series. Nylander got the Marlies on the board late in the second, and Nikita Soshnikov made it a true battle by scoring 5:11 into the third. But Justin Peters and the Hershey defense stood tall from there, shutting the door the rest of the way. Peters finished with 21 saves and was named the second star of the night.

For the first time since 2010, Hershey is back in the Calder Cup Finals to face the Western Conference Champion Lake Erie Monsters.

HERSHEY BEARS NEWS AND NOTES

BOURQUE MOVING UP: Forward Chris Bourque continues to climb the playoff stats ladder. Among all AHL players, Bourque ranks seventh in all-time playoff games played (117). After tallying two goals in game three of the division finals, he became the seventh player in AHL history to record 100 playoff points and now ranks fifth in playoff scoring (29-76-105). Bourque registered an assist in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals to tie Jason Krog for second in all-time playoff assists (76). In Hershey, Bourque became the new all-time leading playoff scorer, adding a goal to his assist in game three for a career total of 74 points (20-54-74) and passing the legendary Mike Nykoluk (13-60-73). He ranks second in all-time Hershey assists.

WALKER GETS THE GOAL: Forward Nathan Walker became the ninth different Hershey player to register a game-winning goal with his second-period tally on Sunday at Toronto. The goal also stood as the series winner, and was his first goal since game three of the opening round against Portland. Walker has three points (1-2-3) in his last four games.

PETERS IN THE PIPES: Goaltender Justin Peters continues to shine in the postseason, leading the league in wins (11), shutouts (two), minutes played (982:57) and saves (420). He ranks third in goals-against average (1.95) and fifth in save percentage (.929).

VRANA'S ON: Rookie Jakub Vrana continues to pad his playoff career highs, adding an assist in Sunday's game five at Toronto for four points (3-1-4) in his last four games. Vrana ranks second on the Bears and second among rookies in points (7-6-13).

TWO FOR DJOOS: Defenseman Christian Djoos recorded his first career multiple-point playoff game with a goal and an assist on Sunday at Toronto. Djoos also has four points (2-2-4) in his last four games.

PLAYOFF BULLETS: All three of Hershey's playoff series were closed out on Sundays...The Bears have been involved in three penalty shots in the postseason, most among AHL teams... The team has been involved in 10 penalty shots since opening night, most in the AHL (took three, faced seven)...The Bears are 9-1 when scoring first in the postseason, best in the AHL...Dustin Gazley is tied for the league lead in first-goals (three)...Lake Erie leads the postseason on offense (3.54 goals/game)...Lake Erie leads the AHL with 16 first-period goals...Hershey ranks fourth in goals against per game (2.41)...The Bears won eight of their 11 games by scoring three or fewer goals...Lake Erie holds the league's second-ranked power play (22.2%) while Hershey ranks third on the penalty kill at home (93.9%)...The Bears lead the postseason with seven wins when outshot by their opposition (7-2-2), but Lake Erie is a perfect 5-0 in the same situation...Hershey finished the month of May with a record of 9-3-1...Lake Erie has won 20 of its last 24 games and 13 of its last 15 on the road dating back to the regular season...Hershey is 6-0 with the lead after one period...The Bears lead the postseason with seven home-ice wins.

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