HERSHEY, Pa. — After one period, the Capitals (in the AHL affiliate form of the Hershey Bears) led the Providence Bruins 2-0. It looked like they would advance past the second round, coming into the game with a 3-2 lead in the Atlantic Division finals. You’ll never guess what happened next.
In the second period, disaster struck. The baby Bruins scored a mere 37 seconds into the period after Danton Heinen netted a loose puck in front of Vitek Vanecek, who is still standing in for an injured Pheonix Copley. Less than six minutes later, Nathan Walker turned the puck over after a sorta check along the boards, allowing Colton Hargrove to score off a backhand pass from Austin Cznarnik. The game was tied.
“At 2-0, we were feeling pretty good about ourselves,” Bears head coach Troy Mann said. “Next thing you know it’s 2-2.”
“We started not managing the puck,” Mann explained, citing the myriad of Bears turnovers in the frame.
Game Highlights
At first, it looked like we were headed for postgame handshakes. Chandler Stephenson opened up the scoring for the Bears, capitalizing on a power play off a pass from Chris Bourque to net his second goal of the 2017 playoffs. Bourque scored his sixth goal of the postseason to give the Bears a 2-0 lead with half a minute remaining in the first period, and the third round was in sight for Hershey.
But the Bruins came roaring back. After tying the game 2-2, Providence’s Chris Porter was able to pick up a wraparound pass from Colby Cave behind the net. In a flash it was 3-2 with a mere 23 seconds left in the middle stanza.
After that, the Bears seemed finished.
“The second period was certainly the turning point of the hockey game,” Mann said.
After the second, the Bears began chasing the game, making risky plays in pursuit of a tying goal. While they had multiple opportunities, they ultimately failed to capitalize and even the score. Late in the third, the Bruins put the dagger in when Austin Czarnik snuck the puck under Vanecek’s arm to give his team a solid two goal lead with just seven minutes remaining in the game.
Now for some fun stuff. I promise.
- Chandler Stephenson scored a goal fit for the both blooper and highlight reels. After Chris Bourque hit the post with Bruins goalie Zane McIntyre out of position, Stephenson collected the puck. It looked like an easy goal, but his shot hit one of three Bruins in front. Still, the Caps prospect was able to collect his own rebound and fired in the opening tally.
It took three attempts, but Chandler Stephenson finds the back of the net to score on the powerplay. #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/cBESmWNCmq
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 16, 2017
- Stephenson returned the favor with half a minute left in the first when he drew a penalty. The puck went to Bourque. The Bruins were busy employing a two-on-one defense on Dustin Gazley, who did not have a puck, making it easy for a wide-open Bourque to flip the puck into the back of the net.
What a goal by @cbourque17 who doubles @TheHersheyBears‘ lead in the final minute of the opening frame. #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/F0VVTv2S5h
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 16, 2017
- Hershey winger Christian Thomas stick-handled a loose Bears helmet behind the net instead of the puck. Like, he actually deked with a helmet on his stick.
- It seems like Providence’s Austin Czarnik might have pounded a few too many Red Bulls before the game. Soon after the Bears opened up the Game Six scoring, the center had to jump over his own goalie to avoid skating into him at full speed. He landed chest first on the crossbar and was stuck there momentarily.
Now let’s have a look at some awesome photos from Kyle Mace, superstar photographer and proprietor of Chocolate Hockey. Kyle’s photos tell the story of the game better than my dumb words.
Game Seven is Wednesday night.
Additional writing and reporting by Madeline Dement.
All photos by Kyle Mace/Chocolate Hockey.
