Hershey Unable to Comeback After Injury to Copley Gives Providence 2-1 Victory

The Hershey Bears lost Game 4 in Providence by a final score of 2-1. The game took a turn for the worse for Hershey when Pheonix Copley went down with a lower-body injury during Providence’s second goal at the end of the second period, and Hershey never recovered in the third.

In a game that had a remarkable similarity to Thursday night’s game for the first 39:18, Hershey found themselves trailing on a power play goal from Providence’s Alex Grant. Hershey rebounded just a couple minutes later when Dustin Gazley deflected a shot from Christian Djoos that tied the game at one goal.

It was another contest that had Copley standing on his head for the time he was in, stopping 27 shots through the duration of his time in the net. Hershey only mustered 11 for the game, tying a season low set in mid-November in Albany.

At the tail end of the period, a scramble in net saw Copley stretching from his left to his right, and went down in pain, trying to throw off his blocker to clutch at his leg. Providence would score on the empty side of the net, a goal that would stand, and lead 2-1 after two. Vitek Vanecek would come in for the duration of the contest and make nine saves in relief.

Hershey was unable to get much going in the third period, as the puck seemed to find ways off of the sticks of Bears players, whether forced or unforced. Hershey only got three shots in the final frame, and no comeback was in the books on Friday evening.

Despite the loss, Bears captain Garrett Mitchell was calm after the game, much like the rest of his teammates. “There’s no panic in that room, for sure,” he said postgame.

Hershey plays one more game at Dunkin’ Donuts Center before returning home for a now necessary Game 6 in Hershey on Tuesday. Keep up to date with Chocolate Hockey for more details on the Bears, including the status of Pheonix Copley, leading up to Sunday’s 3:05 start for Game 5.