Vincent Iorio is set to play his first game since Game 1 of the Washington Capitals’ first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers on April 21.
Hershey Bears head coach Todd Nelson confirmed to FOX 43’s Ed Albert after the team’s morning skate at XL Center that Ioro will return for Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Finals against the Hartford Wolf Pack after being reinstated to the team’s roster in the morning. Despite practicing with the AHL team for weeks, Iorio could only be officially moved back from the Capitals’ NHL group when he was fully healthy from injury.
Albert reports that Iorio will jump into the lineup for Jake Massie and will skate with Lucas Johansen on the second defense pairing. There will be no other lineup changes.
Hershey Bears’ expected lineup for Game 3
With the Bears winning five of their first six playoff games and three-consecutive overall, Riley Sutter and Matthew Phillips will remain on the team’s bench. Sutter, who centered the team’s dominant fourth line last postseason, was dealing with an undisclosed injury, but recently shed his non-contact jersey at practice. Sutter and Phillips wore dark red jerseys at practice on Tuesday, which represent players that are extras and not slated to play.
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 21, 2024
Iorio’s return comes as the Bears will look to close out the Wolf Pack in three games. If the Bears can move on, the Eastern Conference Finals and Calder Cup Finals will both be seven-game series.
Skate scenes 📸 pic.twitter.com/iOK5iW3IAR
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 22, 2024
Update: Ethen Frank will miss Game 3 due to an undisclosed injury. He was announced out minutes before puck drop.
