The Hershey Bears are one win away from a second-straight appearance in the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals. Hershey took down the Hartford Wolf Pack inside Giant Center on Saturday night, securing a 4-2 victory in Game 2.
The Bears got two tallies from the red-hot Ivan Miroshnichenko as well as markers from Ethen Frank and Hendrix Lapierre. Hunter Shepard stood tall in Hershey’s crease, making 22 saves for his fifth win of this postseason after being the playoff MVP last year.
Hershey jumped on the board early through Miroshnichenko on the game’s first power play. The sharp-shooting winger received a pass from Jimmy Huntington in the left faceoff circle and sniped over Dylan Garand’s shoulder to the top shelf.
Shepard kept the Bears in front as Hartford pushed hard for the equalizing tally. The 28-year-old backstop helped kill off an almost two-minute-long, five-on-three advantage for the Wolf Pack. He made 11 saves in the first period alone after only needing to make 13 total stops on Thursday night.
Miroshnichenko then added an insurance marker for Hershey with an unbelievable individual effort. After receiving a pass from Garrett Roe at center ice, Miroshnichenko undressed Hartford defenseman Matthew Robertson and then outwaited Garand in net for a highlight reel goal.
Miroshnichenko is one of just five players to have scored five goals or more in this year’s AHL playoffs.
Frank filtered a shot through Garand’s equipment early in the final frame for his fifth of the playoffs. Lapierre and Lucas Johansen grabbed the helpers on the marker.
Lapierre grabbed a goal of his own with a deft tip of a Jake Massie point drive. The Capitals’ 2020 first-round draft pick leads Hershey in playoff scoring with eight points (3g, 5a) in six games.
The 22-year-old center has already eclipsed his point total from last year’s playoffs. He had six points (3g, 3a) in 20 games en route to lifting the Calder Cup in 2023.
Jake Leschyshyn potted a consolation goal to spoil Shepard’s shutout bid. Adam Sykora added one more late.
Hershey can eliminate the Wolf Pack in just three games with a win on the road in Game 3 on Wednesday. The Bears sent Hartford packing in just three games last year in this same round.
Here are the lines from the win. Vincent Iorio, Riley Sutter, and Logan Day were all unavailable due to injury. Matthew Phillips was scratched for the third straight game.
Sticking with the same projected lineup for Game 2! 📝
Catch the broadcast:
📺@MonSportsNet (DC region)
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻@FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350, @CapitalsRadio pic.twitter.com/m01mdmVZOC— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 18, 2024
