Bears Fall in Game 1 to Coachella Valley Firebirds 4-3
Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals between Hershey and Coachella Valley couldn’t have started better for the Bears.
“We got a break on the goal obviously,” said Todd Nelson as he described what was a essentially an own goal by the Firebirds that gets credited to Joe Snively.
As the Den at Giant Center rocked, Coachella Valley did not flinch.
A smiling Dan Bylsma chuckled at the question about Hershey being a “Den of Horrors” for his club in last years finals.
The point of the question, his team, fully rested and relaxed for multiple days as CV arrived early for this series came out and immediately suffered a bad break. Yes it was early but you never really know how a team will respond.
Bylsma knew it wasn’t a moment that would last.
“I think we have been waiting here for six seven days you know watching the series play out against Cleveland… The message to the guys was get into the series, get into the mess, this is a series that is going to go 420 minutes,” said the Firebirds’ bench boss.
“I thought whether it is a mistake taking a hit or giving a hit, we had to get in the match and we didn’t do that early. The guys on the bench were talking about the next play, the next play and and the next play came from John Hayden and that particular goal settled everyone down, settled the bench down and the guys said we are good we can keep this thing going.”
Hayden’s goal, a short handed one on a break after a bouncing puck hopped over Joe Snively’s stick, is the bounce that Hershey didn’t need.
Lady luck giveth, and lady luck shall taketh away.
All square through 6:34 of ice time. It would not stay that way.
The Firebirds stayed relentless, dazzling stick work as they carried pucks into the Hershey zone. Almost seven minutes later, Coachella Valley used a 2 on 1 break and Ryan Winterton put an easy in for a 2-1 Firebirds lead.
“A team like Coachella, you have to make them earn their goals because they are a highly talented team,” said Todd Nelson as he took the mic referencing that all the goal were preventable.
As the game got a little more physical in the neutral zone, Coachella didn’t flinch. Jimmy Huntington laid out Cameron Hughes at 9:35. At 9:49 it was 3-1 CV. Shepard was left with no chance as Ville Ottavainen shuffled one to the front and Ryan Winterton converted for another easy one.
“We look mentally tired at times making mistakes, like puck decision mistakes, just not bearing down on passes, we need to recharge the batteries,” he continued.
“I think going through this game tonight will help us move forward because it was such an emotional series with Cleveland with game seven.”
And the Bears clawed back because that is the character that Nelson has instilled over his two years here.
Midway in the second, Hardy Haman Acktell lead a rush and was rewarded as a pass bounced fortuitously to his tape to make it a one goal game.
Again the Firebirds responded and in short order to once again keep a two goal cushion into the third.
This game just had a different feel and Coachella and their skill dictated the pace. Nelson referenced the Firebirds being a different challenge.
“As players you have to adjust to those scenarios,” said Hendrix Lapierre. “It is pretty easy to adjust, it is played differently but we will be fine.”
As the third period moved along, Hershey didn’t take advantage of two power play opportunities to start the third. In the game the Chocolate & White were 1/5 with the extra man and that one came with under four minutes left as they pulled Shepard to make it a 6 on 4 advantage.
It was a bit of a spark at the end that put Hershey right there with a chance to win, in a game that seemed like Coachella controlled almost from start to finish. The Firebirds had a chance to put this game away and didn’t as Hershey killed off four straight penalties in the third.
Those are positive elements to look at. Hershey, far from their best, had a chance to pull this one out with a dramatic comeback.
Yes, the Bears are shorthanded on the back end, but we aren’t making it an issue because they aren’t making it an issue. There is no talk of fatigue, injuries or any other element outside their control dictating their effort or affecting their game.
Hendrix Lapierre doesn’t even entertain the thought.
“If you don’t want it at this time of the year I guess you are not built for this.”
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