Hershey Bears vs. Providence Bruins: Series Preview
In another repeat of a 2009 playoff series, the Hershey Bears and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Divison Finals. The series begins with game one Saturday night in Hershey. As puck drop nears, I break down this series and provide a final prediction for how I think it will turn out.
Forwards:
Providence scored slightly more goals in the first round against a weaker defensive team in Wilkes-Barre compared to Hershey scoring 11 goals against a pretty strong defensive Lehigh Valley team, but Hershey generates offensive like no other team left in the playoffs. If the Bears find an opportunity, they will pounce on it.
Advantage: Hershey
Defense:
Personally, I think Hershey has one of the best defenses in all of the AHL right now and has some of the best depth you will find on the back end. While Providence has more size with only three defensemen listed under 6’1″ (by comparison, Hershey has only one defenseman over 6’3″ in Jonas Siegenthaler), the Bears have that skill that takes them over the edge in my book.
Advantage: Hershey
Goalies:
This series is going to be a goaltending duel for the ages. Zane McIntyre, argubably the best goalie in the entire league during the regular season, against Pheonix Copley, one of the hottest goalies heading into the Calder Cup Playoffs. McIntyre has said the is “comftorable with being uncomftorable” in a recent interview, but Copley does not seem to get shaken by anything, either.
Advantage: Even
Power play:
Hershey’s power play was dead all series against Lehigh Valley. While it might wake up this series, the edge goes to Providence until the Bears find a way to score on the man advantage.
Advantage: Providence
Penalty kill:
The Bears went 10/13 against the Phantoms, while Providence had ten more PKs during their series against Wilkes-Barre, going 19/23. The P-Bruins were the second best penalty killers in the league during the regular season, though, giving them the advantage in my book.
Advantage: Providence
Prediction: Hershey in 5
If Hershey can play a disciplined game against Providence, I think they can win this series up quickly. They are on the edge of something special and are ready to break through, and I believe that they do in fact break through in this series. McIntyre might steal a game (or two) for the Bruins, but I fully expect the Chocolate and White to play a spectacular series.
All of the information you need to follow along with this series:
Hershey Social Media:
Twitter: @TheHersheyBears
Our Twitter: @ChocHockey
Our Facebook: Chocolate Hockey
Our Instagram: @ChocolateHockey
My Twitter: @Kyle_Mace
Providence Social Media:
Twitter: @AHLBruins
Facebook: Providence Bruins
Beat: @MarkDivver
Series Hashtag: #HERvsPRO
We will have stories throughout the entire series on the site, along with game updates on our Twitter, and goodies on our Instagram, and Facebook pages. I will also have insights and opinions on my Twitter account all series long.