What separates the American Hockey League uniquely from the NHL is the gruesome three games in three night stretches. As the regular season has progressed, we have learned a team’s spot in the standings can dramatically change in just a brief 72 hour period.
HERSHEY, PA – Philipp Grubauer watches Binghamton’s game tying power play goal during Herhsey’s 3-2 loss to the Senators (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears closed out the second weekend of March with their final divisional match up this month. Looking to bounce back after a disappointing two game stretch in Norfolk, the Bears coughed up a late 2-1 lead and fell 3-2 on regulation after failing to kill off back-to-back penalties in the final four minutes.
Norfolk, VA – Dany Sabourin makes a save during Hershey’s loss to the Admirals (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears and Norfolk Admirals squared up for the final time this regular season. Looking to end on a high note, the Bears dropped a 4-1 decision against the defending Calder Cup Champions at Norfolk Scope.
Welcome to the second edition of Monday’s Eastern Conference Playoff Look in. Seven weeks from today, the banner on top of the Hershey Bears web site will likely either say “Thank you fans”, or will be promoting an upcoming playoff series.
Sunday the Bears capped off their most impressive weekend this entire season. On Friday Hershey rode I-81 and payed visit to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Following a hot start leading to three goals in the game’s first ten minutes, the Bears held off a Penguins’ late game comeback attempt to secure a 3-2 road win.
HERSHEY, PA – Jeff Taffe celebrates one of Hershey’s goals in their 5-3 comeback win (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears looked to conclude a perfect weekend sweep against East Division teams on Sunday with a tilt against the Syracuse Crunch. It was the fourth meeting of the season between the Bears and Crunch with Hershey looking for their first victory against Tampa Bay Lightning’s top affiliate.
World Wrestling Entertainment legend Ric Flair often infamously said, “To be the man, you have to beat the man.” Sunday evening the Bears beat the man of the Eastern Conference with a stunning 5-3 win over the top seeded Crunch.
HERSHEY, PA – Ryan Stoa celebrates his game tying goal against Norfolk during Hershey’s 3-2 comeback over the Admirals (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
If the 2012-13 AHL hockey season concluded today, four of the five East Division teams would have qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs. The one divisional team currently on the outside looking into the playoff picture is the Norfolk Admirals. The Admirals entered Saturday winners in seven of their last ten games, and looked to continue their hot streak against the Hershey Bears.
Philipp Grubauer played his first game with the Chocolate and White since returning from his first NHL stint in Washington D.C. From the opposite end of the ice, he watched Ryan Stoa tie the hockey game on a highlight reel goal with 2:33 left in regulation. Ryan Potulny then scored in the final minute to cap an astonishing 3-2 regulation win over the Norfolk Admirals.
Photo via Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Facebook Page
The Hershey Bears kicked off the month of March with a trip north on I-81 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Bears entered play win-less in their last three consecutive matches against the W-B/S Penguins. Philipp Grubauer, fresh off his National Hockey League debut, looked on from the bench as Dany Sabourin backstopped Hershey to a nail-biting 3-2 win at Mohegan Sun Arena.
HERSHEY, PA – The Bears celebrate a goal earlier this month in a game against Wilkes-Barre (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Playoffs. It’s often a word coaches hate using unless absolutely necessary, and a word fans begin using in training camp every season. It is a word Hershey Bears fans have grown accustomed to using at this juncture of the season, and teams like the Adirondack Phantoms dream of using. Exactly eight weeks from today marks the day after the regular season for the Hershey Bears. Eight weeks from today it will either be locker clean out day at Giant Center, or day one of practice in preparation for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Since the beginning of the Bears-Capitals affiliation in the 2005-06 season, the Bears are yet to miss out on the playoffs. Eight weeks from now, we will know if the playoff streak has been extended to eight consecutive years, or end at seven. Within the last seven years, Hershey has added three Calder Cup Championships, appeared in the finals four times, and have been knocked out in the first round on three occasions.
Each Monday until the end of the regular season, we will break down the standings in each division of the Eastern Conference and look at the conference’s current top 10 teams. Once the regular season concludes, the top eight will advance to represent the Eastern Conference in the postseason.
Boardwalk Hall before today’s game (Photo via @ScottStuccio)
Sunday afternoon the Hershey Bears traveled to Atlantic City to face the Albany Devils at the historic Boardwalk Hall. A night after his 40 save shutout spectacle, Philipp Grubauer received his second straight start in goal. Defensive turnovers and let downs in front of Grubauer led to a 6-4 loss on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
HERSHEY, PA – Ryan Potulny celebrates his second period goal during Hershey’s 3-0 win over Adirondack (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
When the Hershey Bears and Adirondack Phantoms last met on November 24, 2012, the Bears began heading south in the standings after dropping a 3-1 decision. It was Hershey’s sixth loss in their previous seven games in a slumping month of November.
Since then, the Bears have battled over the .500 mark in the standings and entered Saturday’s action against Adirondack with a chance to win their 25th game of the campaign. Philipp Grubauer stonewalled the Phantoms for his first AHL shutout in a 3-0 win at Giant Center.