PHOTOS: Hershey Takes Game One Against Worcester
Worcester, MA – Chris Conner enters the ice before game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals against the Worcester Sharks (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
It was a difficult way to win a game, but the Bears had a come from behind victory in game one of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference quarter-finals Friday night in Worcester. An outstanding performance from goalie Pheonix Copley, who had a 41-save night, along with a great overall team effort propelled the Chocolate and White to a 4-1 victory over the Sharks.
The Bears trailed the Sharks 1-0 late in the second period when Connor Carrick scored to tie the game at one.
Late in the third period, Bears captain Steve Oleksy took a bad hit into the boards. He eventually got up under his own power, but the hit resulted in a five minute power play for Hershey with less than three minutes left in regulation. Hershey then scored two power play goals in less then a minute and a half. First, Nate Schmidt, followed by Stan Galiev. Chris Brown added an empty netter to give the Bears a 4-1 win. Game two of the Bears-Sharks series continues tonight at DCU Center in Worcester at 7pm.
Photos from the game. All photos by Kyle Mace:
Bears players prepare to enter the ice before game one.
Garrett Mitchell waits for a faceoff
Jakub Vrana adjusts his helmet
Mitchell sends a pass to Nate Schmidt
Schmidt skates back to the bench during a TV timeout
Liam O’Brien watches a faceoff
Kris Newbury waits for the puck to be dropped
Pheonix Copley makes a glove save
Sharks players celebrate the first goal of the game
Connor Carrick scores and celebrates the Bears first goal
Steve Oleksy begins to get up after being hit in the third period
Oleksy heads to the locker room
Schmidt celebrates his goal with Galiev
Galiev scores and celly’s the Bears third goal
Bears get together after Brown’s empty netter