HERSHEY, PA – Pheonix Copley shakes Bryan Lerg’s hand after Hershey’s game 4 win over Worcester in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
A playoff game usually doesn’t result in a 10 goal effort, but the Hershey Bears put together their best offensive game of the season and beat the Worcester Sharks 10-4 on Friday night to advance to the Calder Cup conference semi-finals.
Worcester, MA – Chris Conner enters the ice before game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals against the Worcester Sharks (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
It was a difficult way to win a game, but the Bears had a come from behind victory in game one of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference quarter-finals Friday night in Worcester. An outstanding performance from goalie Pheonix Copley, who had a 41-save night, along with a great overall team effort propelled the Chocolate and White to a 4-1 victory over the Sharks.
HERSHEY, PA – Bears players celebrate Tim Kennedy’s first period goal Saturday night against the Manchester Monarchs. Hershey would win the game 6-3, a day before clinching a playoff spot (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
It wasn’t a question of if, but when. After missing the post season last year, the Hershey Bears clinched a playoff spot on Sunday afternoon. The Bears battled back to beat Bridgeport 4-3, while Springfield lost, assuring the Bears of a postseason spot.
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Philipp Grubauer is scored on in the third period of Hershey’s 5-3 loss to the Penguins on Wednesday night (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
We hate to bring up bad memories, especially since the correct mentality in hockey is to continuously move forward. However it’s worth it to briefly reflect back on how our playoff hopes and dreams, as well as the Mike Haviland era ended a year ago. Back-to-back road games in Norfolk, in mid-April; Both must win games, and both dropped by the Bears in regulation.
Now currently, we’re thankfully nowhere near as dire and concerning of a situation. Even after dropping a 5-3 decision to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the first of two meetings this week.
HERSHEY, PA – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms celebrate their OT win over Hershey on Sunday night (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Sunday night was a chance for the Hershey Bears to continue their dominance against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and East Division. After a big OT win the night before against Wilkes-Barre, Hershey’s division lead was at five points coming into Sunday. A day win for Wilkes-Barre over Bridgeport would promise the Bears could not gain any ground, but still hold that five point lead.
Looking for their fifth straight win against Lehigh Valley, the Bears and Phantoms went back and forth all night long.
HERSHEY, PA – The Hershey Bears celebrate their OT win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Saturday night in Hershey (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
It was a meeting of the rivals in Hershey for one last time this regular season. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins made their last stop in Chocolate Town, USA for the 2014-15 season. The Bears, who came into the game going 10-1-0-1 in 2015 was looking to expand their lead for first place in the East Division. With a packed Giant Center, this game did not disappoint.
HERSHEY, PA – Chandler Stephenson celebrate his goal in Hershey 2-0 win over Norfolk on Sunday afternoon (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Hershey and the Norfolk Admirals faced off before the 49th Super Bowl Sunday afternoon, but the Bears game might have had more story lines than the big game. Hershey, coming off of a shootout loss after a five game winning streak, came into Sunday looking to bounce back with a big win.
The Admirals were making their last trip to Giant Center in the regular season after the announcement of their departure from the AHL and move California.
HERSHEY, PA – Jonathan Marchessault scores on Pheonix Copley in the shootout during Syracuse’s win on Saturday night (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Saturday night was a chance for the Hershey Bears to extend their winning streak to six games and hopefully extend their lead in the East Division. Unfortunately for Hershey, standing in their way was a tough Syracuse Crunch team who was looking to sweep the season series between these two teams with their fourth win against the Bears.
Allentown, PA – Philippe Cornet looks back at Connor Carrick’s second period goal, the 20,000th in Hershey Bears history (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Coming off of the AHL All-Star break, the Hershey Bears looked to extend their winning streak to five games and accomplish a first in American Hockey League history. The Bears had 19,997 goals going into their game against Lehigh Valley Friday night, needed three to get to 20,000.
HERSHEY, PA – Bears players celebrate Connor Carrick’s GWOTG vs. Binghamton Saturday night. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Hershey was looking to extend their East Division lead heading into the AHL All-Star break. With a one point lead on Wilkes-Barre with three games in hand, the Bears were riding a three game winning streak into Saturday night’s game against Binghamton.