The Hershey Bears have taken an early 1-0 series lead over the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals after a Thursday night thriller on home ice. The Monsters made a last-ditch comeback to force overtime but could not complete the win as Mike Vecchione found the sudden-death, game-winner.
The Bears were sparked to the win by goals from Vecchione, Ethen Frank, Aaron Ness, Chase Priskie, and Hendrix Lapierre. Vecchione’s goal came eight minutes into the extra frame to send the packed Giant Center home happy.
Hershey jumped on the board first through a red-hot Frank who darted in on a semi-breakaway created by a pinpoint pass from Lapierre. The fastest man in hockey made no mistake with his shot over the pad of Cleveland’s Jet Greaves.
After the Bears went 0-for-4 on the power play in the first period, Cleveland struck on their first man advantage in the second frame. The Monsters found Hunter McKown all alone in front of Shepard and he slipped a clever wrister through the surprised Bears netminder.
Cleveland took the lead just over a minute later as Alex Whelan found a soft spot in front of the net and was able to slip a backhand by a flailing Shepard.
Not long after, the Bears responded with their own tally as Mike Vecchione fired a shot that clicked off of Aaron Ness’ backside and beat Greaves. The butt-bounce tally is Ness’ first of the postseason. They don’t ask how, they ask how many.
Vecchione was initially credited with the goal until AHL officials saw the clear deflection off Ness’ derrière.
The Bears then finally converted while up a man as Chase Priskie walked down to the top of the right faceoff circle and unleashed an unstoppable bomb that beat Greaves under his glove hand.
Lapierre added what initially seemed like some insurance in the third period as he picked up the puck in neutral, kept his legs moving into the offensive zone, and beat Greaves with a wicked wrister.
The marker gave Hershey a two-goal lead with just under half of the third period off the clock.
Trey Fix-Wolansky scored with Cleveland up 6-on-4 with just under a minute and a half left in regulation.
David Jiricek tied the game with just 19 seconds remaining.
Vecchione converted on an overtime, odd-man rush attempt to put the game to bed.
Lapierre, Vecchione, and Jimmy Huntington all had multi-point nights. Lapierre leads the team in postseason scoring with ten points (4g, 6a) from eight games.
Hershey actually lost the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Rochester Americans last season. Malcolm Subban, who served as Greaves’ backup for Cleveland, made 21 saves in that May 2023 series starter.
Here are the lines from the win:
Projected lineup for Game 1! 📝
Catch the broadcast:
📺@fox43.2 (Antenna TV), @MonSportsNet (DC region)
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻@FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350 (joined in-progress), @CapitalsRadio pic.twitter.com/JVL60JcTcz— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 30, 2024
