The Hershey Bears defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack 3-1 on Wednesday, winning the Atlantic Division Final in a three-game sweep.
The Bears will now go on to play the Rochester Americans, who completed their own sweep of the Toronto Marlies, in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Americans are the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.
“Killer instinct — that’s what it comes down to, right?
It’s kill or be killed — and we’re Bears.”@shepDadyy dropping FACTS has us #RoaringForMore 🐻 pic.twitter.com/aDU0tInJjt
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 18, 2023
The Bears will have home ice in the series as the Americans are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Conference Finals will start on Tuesday, May 23 with Game One at Giant Center. Tickets go on sale for the series on Thursday, May 18 at 10 am.
The complete schedule is as follows:
Game 1 – Tuesday, May 23 vs. Rochester, GIANT Center, 7 p.m.
Game 2 – Thursday, May 25 vs. Rochester, GIANT Center, 7 p.m.
Game 3 – Saturday, May 27 at Rochester, Blue Cross Arena, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 – Monday, May 29 at Rochester, Blue Cross Arena, 6:05 p.m.
* Game 5 – Wednesday, May 31 vs. Rochester, GIANT Center, 7 p.m.
* Game 6 – Friday, June 2 at Rochester, Blue Cross Arena, 7:05 p.m.
* Game 7 – Monday, June 5 vs. Rochester, GIANT Center, 7 p.m.
*If Necessary. All times are Eastern.
During the regular season, the Hershey Bears went 1-0-0-1 in two games against the Americans. They defeated Rochester 2-1 at home on March 18 and lost 4-3 in the shootout six days later in Rochester.
The Americans were paced by Lukas Rousek, who led the team in scoring with 56 points (16g, 40a) during the regular season. The team featured three 20 goal-scorers in Jiri Kulich (24), Brett Murray (23), and Linus Weissbach (20).
During the postseason, the Americans have had an offensive explosion seeing seven different players average more than a point per game. Center Mason Jobst leads the team with 11 points (2g, 9a) in eight games.
Special delivery FOR THE SWEEP 🧹 pic.twitter.com/AnAqsP8TcZ
— x-Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) May 18, 2023
The Americans have scored the second-most goals in the Calder Cup playoffs this year, with 38 goals in eight games played. They have a goals differential of plus-12 and won six consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Hershey has won six of its seven games in the postseason, outscoring the competition 27-12. Their plus-15 goals differential is second only to the Western Conference’s Coachella Valley Firebirds who are a plus-18 (41-23).
Here’s the full press release from the Hershey Bears:
BEARS ANNOUNCE SCHEDULE FOR EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS VS. ROCHESTER
The AHL’s oldest rivalry renewed for a chance to advance to the Calder Cup Finals
(Hershey, PA – May 17, 2023) – The Hershey Bears have announced the schedule for the club’s Eastern Conference Finals playoff series versus the Rochester Americans. The best-of-seven series sees the two oldest teams in the American Hockey League square off for a chance to advance to the Calder Cup Finals.
Tickets for Hershey’s home games will go on sale via Ticketmaster on Thursday, May 18 at 10 a.m. Tickets start at just $14.95, and fans are encouraged to buy early and save! For the first 24 hours tickets are on sale, fans can save $5 on all tickets excluding Club and Glass seats.
The Hershey Bears 2023 Playoffs are sponsored by Penn State Health. Fans are asked to continue to check HersheyBears.com and the club’s social media channels for the latest updates on the playoffs, Watch Parties, TV broadcast information, and schedule updates.
