Are you still crying over the Caps’ elimination last night? I am. Since we all need something to cheer us up a bit, here’s some good news: the Hershey Bears won 2-1 in overtime against the Providence Bruins Thursday, securing them a 2-1 series lead in the second round of Calder Cup playoffs.
The Bears went down early in the game after the Bruins’ Chris Casto put his team up one with 11:12 left in the first. The Bears were not able to strike back until early in the third period, when Chris Bourque capitalized on a power play, sinking the rebound of Travis Boyd’s shot past Zane McIntyre to tie the game with 18:18 left in regulation.
Chris Bourque nets the equalizer for @TheHersheyBears and this one is tied up at 1. #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/BG36fKR7lJ
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 12, 2017
The remainder of the third period was frantic for the Bears, who had to scramble to save the game as they faced four penalty kills and two minutes of four-on-four play. Unable to bring the game to its finish in regulation for the second game in a row, the game moved to overtime, where left wing Chris Bourque struck once again on the power play 7:14 into the extra period to send the Bears home victorious.
It was the @AHLBruins vs @cbourque17 tonight as Bourque nets the overtime winner to put @TheHersheyBears up 2-1 in the series. #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/FXbdHYEB1N
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 12, 2017
Here’s another look at the goal.
How sweet is that! 🙌 #HBH #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/CMKQAdA4DZ
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 12, 2017
Bourque’s pair of power play goals gives him four total in the postseason. A former Providence Bruin himself, Bourque finished the regular season second on the team in points (18 goals and 42 assists). He also recently dyed his hair platinum blonde for the playoffs, as did his younger brother and teammate Ryan Bourque.
While Bourque scored the deciding goal, Bears goalie Pheonix Copley was the real hero. Providence outshot Hershey 40-15, but Copley saved 39 shots to earn the victory.
The Bears are now 4-0 on the road in the 2017 playoffs, and will look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead Friday night in Game Four.
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Chris Bourque scored his second goal of the game at 7:14 of overtime, and netminder Pheonix Copley made 39 saves to lead the Hershey Bears to a 2-1 victory in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Finals on Thursday night. Despite being outshot 40-15, Hershey took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with the victory at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Copley held Hershey in the game all evening long. The netminder faced 12 shots in all three periods, and also turned aside all four shots he faced in overtime. He played a large part in Hershey’s perfect penalty kill, which went 6-for-6 on the evening, and held Providence off the scoreboard on chances late in the regulation and in overtime.
Copley’s strong play setup Hershey’s comeback. With Hershey trailing 1-0, Bourque struck for his first of two goals early in the third period. The Bears worked the puck around on the power play, and Travis Boyd’s shot to the net was blocked. The rebound popped loose to Bourque on the right wing, and the forward fired a shot past an outstretched Zane McIntyre to tie the game, 1-1. Christian Djoos also assisted.
For the second straight game of the series, overtime was required, and for the second straight contest, it was Hershey who came out victorious. After killing a minor penalty, Hershey drew a power play of their own. The Bears took advantage, and Bourque ended the affair, stunning the crowd of 4,512 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Nathan Walker got the puck to Bourque along the right wing. The forward cut to the net and snapped a shot over the glove of McIntyre to give Hershey the win.
The win was Hershey’s third victory of the playoffs when trailing after two periods. The Bears only had two wins when trailing after two periods during the entire 2016-17 regular season. Hershey is a perfect 4-0 on the road in the playoffs, and are now 3-1 in overtime during the postseason.
Hershey was 2-for-5 on the power play, while Providence was 0-for-6.
The Bears continue the Atlantic Division Finals tomorrow in Providence with Game 4 at 7:05 p.m. at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The game may be heard on the Bears Radio Network and viewed on AHLLive.com.
