Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby to Face Off in Stanley Cup Playoffs

A Hershey Bears first will happen Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The first every matchup of two Hershey Bears goalies that played together on the same Bears Calder Cup team will face off in a Stanley Cup Playoff game. Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby, who played together on the 2009-10 Calder Cup team, will start for their respective teams in game four of the first round match-up between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals.

Neuvirth led Hershey to two consecutive Calder Cups, winning MVP of the Calder Cup playoffs in 2009. The Czech Republic native was arguably the best goalie to come through Chocolate Town in recent memory but has struggled to find a home in the NHL after being traded by Washington in 2014.

Holtby spent parts of five seasons in Hershey, setting a few records during his time as a Bear. Despite never winning a playoff series with the Bears, the netminder has become one of the top goalies in the NHL today, as he is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy this season.

The two have played against each other before when the Caps lost to the Flyers 4-3 in overtime on January 27th.

It is also believed to be the first time any two former Bears goalies will meet in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Washington currently leads the series over the Flyers, three games to none.