Bowey Scores, Bears Return Home With 3-2 Series Lead

Madison Bowey celebrates his game winning overtime goal against Providence in game five of the Atlantic Divison Finals Sunday afternoon in Providence (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

The Hershey Bears faced a big challenge in Game 5 against the Providence Bruins Sunday afternoon. With a tied series, the Bears had the opportunity to come home with a lead or a deficit. They did just that thanks to another overtime win at Dunkin’ Donuts Center by a 3-2 final score.

The Bears played their most complete period of hockey on the road in the first period. Hershey came out with an aggressive forecheck and solid defense in front of Vitek Vanecek, making his first start in a Calder Cup Playoff game in his young career.

Hershey got on the board first when Chris Bourque deflected a Tyler Lewington shot past Providence goaltender Zane McIntyre to get the Bears a 1-0 lead. The tally was his third in as many games in the postseason. The Bears took the lead into the intermission thanks to a couple penalty kills and seven saves from Vanecek.

Providence would respond in the second period when Providence captain Tommy Cross would lift a backhand shot over the blocker hand of Vanecek to tie the score at one apiece. The goal came during a period of time in which the Bruins controlled for an extended amount of time.

The Bears would respond just under five minutes later, when Stanislav Galiev would find Paul Carey at the top of the right circle. The winger would bury a long-range shot over the glove of MacIntyre to give the Bears a 2-1 lead. The goal was Carey’s first of the playoffs and second point since he returned from the Washington Capitals for Game 4.

The Bears held that lead into the second intermission thanks to an incredible save by Vanecek on a late power play for the Bruins when he stopped a cross-crease pass with his pad and glove, and the rebound went up when Madison Bowey knocked it away from him. Hershey would get outshot that period but kept the lead intact.

The Bears held the lead until the Bruins tied the game off a rebound of Vanecek to tie the game at 2. The score would stay a deadlock until the end of regulation into OT.

Hershey finished it just over a minute in when Bowey ripped a shot from the top of the right circle over McIntyre’s glove, and the Bears took a 3-2 win and lead in the series. Hershey can eliminate the Bruins on Tuesday night in Giant Center.