The Hershey Bears have their potential opponent in the Atlantic Division Final if they can eliminate the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this weekend.
The Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate, won their second-round series against the Providence Bruins in overtime of Game Four on Friday night. Hartford finished with 15 fewer standings points than the Bruins in the regular season and secured the playoff upset with two straight sudden-death overtime wins.
Jake Leschyshyn scored the series-clincher at the 9:41 mark of the extra frame.
The Atlantic Division Final would be another five-game series as only the Conference Finals and Calder Cup Finals are best-of-seven series. The Bears went 3-1 against the Wolf Pack during the regular season and finished with 33 more standings points than them.
Hartford is led in scoring by former Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Belzile, NHL veteran Riley Nash, and Rangers 2021 first-round draft pick Brennan Othmann. Dylan Garand has started every game in the postseason for them in net, going 5-2 with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
The Bears won all three games against Hartford in last year’s Atlantic Division Finals before eventually taking home the franchise’s 12th Calder Cup two rounds later.
Hershey cannot overlook the Phantoms though. Lehigh Valley shut them out in Game Three with relative ease and will be back on home ice again for Game Four. Game Five, if necessary, would come in back-to-back fashion at Giant Center.
Puck drop for the potential series decider is set for 7:05 pm inside the Phantoms’ PPL Center.
