Bears Devour Wolf Pack, Sweep into Conference Finals
This is not a flashback to last year. Once again the Hershey Bears have swept the Hartford Wolf Pack in the Division finals, winning game three 4-1 and taking the series 3-0.
Down a goal after the first 20 minutes, the Bears came out and titled the ice heavily in their favor for the second stanza. Garrett Roe scored just under two minutes into the period as he redirected a Hardy Haman Aktell shot in front. Just about six minutes later Roe led a two on one break with Chase Priskie when his pass over to Chase got tied up into his skates, stayed out in front for Roe to recover and put past a befuddled Dylan Garand.
Hershey’s offense and pressure in this period was put on display at the blue line and through the neutral zone as the Chocolate and White forced Hartford into chaotic retreats and multiple turnovers.
Roe’s insertion into the lineup continues to show that Coach Todd Nelson is either magician when it comes to the lineup or is taking advice from the most magical of all magic eight balls. Roe led Hershey in points (3g, 2a) in the series.
The game remained tight but fans watching from either a party or their home never felt like this game was in danger over the closing 20 minutes. Midway through the period the dagger for the game and series was delivered.
On a power play Nelson sent out the 4th line and yes once again the move paid dividends. Henrik Rybinski worked hard along to far boards shuffled the puck back to the blue line before Lucas Johansen sent it back deep where Rybinski retrieved it and laced a pass on the tape to cutting Matt Strome in the slot for his first in the Calder Cup Playoffs as Strome crouched to celebrate as he skated to the boards with 8:08 left in the period and 3-1 lead.
Mike Vecchione later would add an empty netter for his first goal of the playoffs to finalize the margin at 4 -1.
So once again the Bears sweep to an Atlantic Division Championship. This after winning the first round in four games, much like last year. Next up Cleveland who swept past Syracuse. The Monsters goalie in game four Malcolm Subban. If that sounds familiar it should, Subban was in net last year for Rochester in the Conference Finals.
Game One against Cleveland is set to take place Thursday may 30th at Giant Center. This marks the first playoff series between Hershey and Cleveland since the two teams met in the 2016 Calder Cup Finals when the then Lake Erie Monsters played in the Western Conference. Hershey was swept in that series. One member of the current team remembers that series all too well, Aaron Ness.
Welcome Back Vinny Iorio.
Finally cleared off of the injury list about 12 hours before game time, Iorio made his 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs debut.
Whoa Shep Daddy
Goaltender Hunter Shepard went 3-0 with 1.33 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. The Bears outscored Hartford 14-4; Hershey’s four goals allowed in the series represents the fewest allowed in a playoff series decided in three games in club history, shattering the previous franchise mark of five goals allowed (2023 vs. Hartford, 2001 vs. Kentucky, 1998 vs. Kentucky, 1942 vs. Cleveland).
