Twice as Nice: Dube’s OT Heroics Propel Hershey to 2-0 Series Lead
It was the main event of Saturday evening in the sweetest place on Earth: the pivotal game two
between the Hershey Bears and the Cleveland Monsters. Up 1-0 in the series, the Bears aimed to
capitalize on a 2-0 start to this series in front of a rowdy sold-out Giant Center faithful.
For the second time in as many games, overtime was necessary after the Bears failed to close it
out in regulation.
Just like Thursday night, heroics from the Chocolate and White lifted them to a 2-0 series lead.
Pierrick Dube’s overtime winner at 13:54 of extra time brought the crowd and his teammates on
their feet – breaking a four-game pointless streak – taking this one by a 3-2 final.
“That’s a big goal for him – obviously for our hockey team but for him just to feel good about
himself,” said head coach Todd Nelson. “He’s trying to do the right things out there, and they
weren’t clicking in his direction. He was getting a bit frustrated, so I think that’s huge. He hasn’t
been playing bad. The goals just haven’t come his way.”
“I’ve been struggling a little bit scoring goals,” said Dube. “Even if we haven’t produced as
much as we wanted to, this helps us for confidence. This one feels good.”
“[Dube] has been great,” said Frank – who tallied his seventh goal of the season in the third
period. “Going through a skid like that is tough for guys who are used to getting points and
producing. He’s been great at practice. He’s not getting upset. He’s keeping his head high and
not worrying about stuff he misses. He knows that it’s a long game, so chances will continue to
come. It was really great for us because that’s a big weight off his shoulders and he can play
more relaxed and loose.”
This is the first time the Bears won back-to-back overtime games in the playoffs since games two
and three of the 2017 Atlantic Division Finals against the Providence Bruins.
Winning is contagious. Why have the Bears been successful in high-pressure situations?
“With the locker room we have, it’s amazing,” added Dube. “We are brothers and all care for
each other. We all We all have a tough time, and everyone was talking to me and saying ‘stick
with it’ and it’s going to come at some point. It ended up being today. Being part of these group
of guys helps you not only as a hockey player but as a person too. It’s fun being a part of it.”
“I want to give a lot of credit to the leadership group for that,” said Frank. “They’re keeping
everyone positive when guys are getting down on themselves for whatever it may be.”
After a scoreless first period, Hershey opened the scoring for the second time in as many games.
Garrett Roe ripped his fourth goal of the playoffs, low to the blocker side, past a screened Jet
Greaves at 14:35 of the second period. Defenseman Chase Priskie recorded the primary assist on
that tally, extending his point streak to six games (two goals, five assists).
“We were trying to give a different look from what they saw in the previous game,” said Roe.
“We have guys in front, a great screen by Vecchione, and I just had to hit a spot. The goalie had
no chance of seeing it because of the screen in front.”
Just over four minutes later, Cleveland’s Josh Dunne tied it for the Monsters. A shot from Ivan
Miroshnichenko was blocked at the blueline, starting a potential breakaway for the road team.
Hunter Shepard raced out of the net to try to thwart the puck away, but the puck failed to clear
the zone. Moments later, Dunne jammed the biscuit into an open cage.
“It’s a situation where we put one in the pads,” said Nelson. [Miroshnichenko] didn’t mean to,
but it happened. All of a sudden, Shep comes out of the net. It looked like the scene from
Youngblood.”
Hershey regained the lead courtesy of Frank’s seventh goal of the postseason at 11:21 of the third period to establish a five-game goal streak. Lucas Johansen flipped the puck out of the defensive zone, Lapierre corralled it and fed Frank alone in front.
“I don’t know if it’s anything specific,” mentioned Frank when asked about his streak. “I’m
trying to be my best self for the team. Everybody else is doing it, so it’s pretty easy to jump on
that train.”
The Chocolate and White, similar to game one, was tasked with killing a late penalty as
defenseman Jake Massie flipped the puck over the glass for a delay of game call. Despite doing
so successfully, Monsters powerhouse blueliner David Jiricek tied the game at two at 18:27.
With Greaves to the bench for the extra attacker, Brendan Gaunce fed Jiricek – who unleashed a
heavy one-timer past Shepard.
Following a good backcheck by Dube, he controlled the puck and raced up the ice. After a
terrific give-and-go play with Huntington, Dube sprung behind the defense and sniped the shot
high glove side on Greaves.
Now the series shifts to Cleveland – where a hostile environment will await the locals.
“We are playing hockey for these moments,” said Dube. “We like adversity and when it’s hard.
It’s going to be really hard. They have a great barn and crowd over there. I think it’s going to be
a really good matchup over there. They’re going to be there for game three, and it’ll be really
hard.”
The biggest question going into game three will be the status of defenseman Lucas Johansen. He
left the game late in the third period due to injury and did not return.
These two teams will return to action on Tuesday, June 4, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in
Cleveland. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
