After going without a point in the Hershey Bears’ first three games of the playoffs, Ivan Miroshnichenko scored two goals in Game 4 of the Atlantic Division semifinals against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The goals were big, but his best play of the night came late in the third period where, during one shift, he was the most dominant player on the ice.
With the Bears clinging to a 4-3 lead, Miroshnichenko’s hard work up and down the ice led to Hardy Häman Aktell’s first career AHL playoff goal, giving the Bears an insurance marker with 5:08 remaining in regulation. While Miro did not register a point on HHA’s tally, he did most of the work to make it happen.
Bears Hockey Nation posted the entire clip. Miroshnichenko wears number 10 in white.
The play started in the Bears’ defensive zone where Miroshnichenko made a heads-up play, clearing a loose puck away from harm to the corner boards. There, third-line center Garrett Roe picked up the biscuit and Miroshnichenko hustled up the ice, leaving his man in the dust.
Roe hit Miro with a perfect cross-ice saucer pass in neutral. As a Phantoms defender approached, the Russian winger chipped the biscuit over the opponent’s blade, springing himself on a 2-on-1 with his other line-mate Mike Vecchione.
Already with two goals in the game, Miroshnichenko could have been selfish and gone for the hat trick, but instead, he faked a shot and sent a backhand pass to Veccs. Phantoms goaltender Cal Petersen made the initial saves.
While two Lehigh Valley defenders stopped playing and assumed Petersen had covered the puck, Miroshnichenko saw daylight. He skated back to the crease and jostled the puck loose. The biscuit made its way to Bears defenseman Logan Day, who passed to Häman Aktell at the point.
Meanwhile, Miroshnichenko skated to the front of the Phantoms’ net and set a screen on Petersen. He jumped twice, causing even more chaos, and avoided Häman Aktell’s shot as it hit the back of the net.
5-3 Bears.
So let’s recap if tl;dr:
- Miro started the play with heads-up defense
- Hustling, he beat his man up the ice
- He chipped the puck past a defender, springing himself on a 2-on-1
- He set up his teammate on the play despite having two goals already
- He got to a loose puck in the crease
- He set the screen that ultimately led to HHA’s goal
All these little selfless things combined to make the Big Team Thing happen.
The shift illustrates the game-breaking ability Miroshnichenko already possesses at age 20 which will hopefully become more and more consistent as he continues to develop. It also shows how strong, selfless, and passionate Miroshnichenko is as a player.
