HERSHEY, Pa. — Goalie Vitek Vanececk of the Hershey Bears looked behind him. But the puck lay in front. Providence Bruins forward Jordan Szwarz popped it in the net. Just 6:15 into the game, the Washington Capitals affiliate was headed towards the organization’s second Game Seven, round two exit in consecutive weeks.
After Tuesday’s loss in Game Six, Hershey head coach Troy Mann pointed out to me the success the Bears have had under his tenure in winner-take-all matches. It just took Hershey five games (in a best-of-five) to reach the Atlantic Division finals against Providence.
The Bears had been there before and the players felt ready.
They weren’t.
After the deflating first goal, Capitals prospect Riley Barber scored on a delicious snipe after collecting a crisp pass from Nathan Walker who was standing along the far wall.
Game 7: The perfect time for Riley Barber to net his first of the playoffs. #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/Nr8Rmk7ztJ
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 17, 2017
Caps head coach Barry Trotz caught all the action, driving up for the game. Trotz’s presence was a plus for Barber and a negative for Jakub Vrana, who I never once noticed during the game.
The sloppy hockey continued, though the Bears seemed to get the better of it, collecting and forcing many Providence turnovers. Still, 13 minutes into the frame, the Chocolate and White had just two shots on net. And unlike the Pittsburgh Penguins, goals didn’t rain down off of those.
In the second, Szwarz put the Bruins up 2-1, deflating the meager announced crowd of 5,313 at Giant Center, where the Bears won just one game at home in the postseason.
Jordan Szwarz right now: 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/IMAFBTDEsb
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 18, 2017
Things got worse just under seven minutes later when Wanye Simpson and Alex Grant got their spin moves on. Grant spun the puck towards the net and Simpson happily wrapped it around Vanecek. The real culprit, however, was the Bears defense who seemed to have no idea where to stand on the ice.
Two in a row for the @AHLBruins as they take a 3-1 lead in the second. #Game7 #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/YjudegH49k
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 18, 2017
The Bears made it a game when Chandler Stephenson played tic-tac-toe on the power play to put Hershey within one.
.@CStephenson22 wrists one past McIntyre to pull @TheHersheyBears within one. #Game7 #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/8K87NZ6R9d
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 18, 2017
With both teams’ seasons on the line the game headed to the third with a 3-2 Bruins lead.
The period was sleepy, just like the home team was all night. Hershey had three shots on goal in the third period — all with nothing to lose. They let in a last minute goal to put the dagger in themselves.
The Bears season is over. It deserves to be.
“Every year your goal is to win the Calder Cup, especially here in Hershey,” veteran Bears forward Chris Bourque said. “When you fall short of that it’s not a success.”
The best tradition in sports. #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/d5mSMyxkJo
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 18, 2017
Joe B. wasn’t here. But here’s the Mama Gordon Sweatshirt of the Night.
