The Hershey Bears are in the driver’s seat of the Eastern Conference Finals after securing a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday night. Hershey will head into Cleveland next week for three games up 2-0 in the series after Pierrick Dubé put away the team’s second straight overtime winner.
The Bears were pushed to the win by goals from Dubé, Garrett Roe, and Ethen Frank. After a rough showing in Game 1, Hunter Shepard responded in a big way, making 35 saves at the other end of the rink to earn his eighth win of the postseason.
For the entire first half of the game, neither team could get on the scoreboard. The action was highly physical and tight-checking at even strength and both teams combined to misfire on six total power-play chances.
Hershey would not be denied on their fifth power play attempt though as Garrett Roe broke the scoreless draw with a quick slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. Mike Vecchione, the Game 1 overtime hero, set a perfect screen in front of Cleveland netminder Jet Greaves.
Chase Priskie picked up the primary assist, his ninth point of the playoffs. He now has points in six straight games.
The Bears couldn’t carry their lead into the second intermission though as the Monsters benefited from some supreme puck luck to tie the game up at one. Ivan Miroshnichenko took a shot at the top of the Cleveland zone that bounced off shinpads and rolled down the ice.
Hunter Shepard came flying out of his net to try and get to the puck first and succeeded but also jammed the loose biscuit off of Miroshnichenko. Pearson grabbed possession below the red line and fed a wide-open Josh Dunne in front to even the game up.
The game stayed tied for over half of the third period before Frank broke through. The 26-year-old winger now has goals in five straight games. Hendrix Lapierre provided the pinpoint pass to set up the streaking Frank.
Shepard made several sparkling stops towards the end of regulation to keep Hershey in front.
David Jiricek tied the game with the Monsters goaltender pulled for the second straight game.
Dubé went coast-to-coast and beat Greaves high to the glove side for the winner. The marker was the Frenchman’s second of the playoffs.
Lapierre now ranks second in the AHL in postseason scoring with 11 points (4g, 7a) from nine games. Frank is second in goal-scoring with his seven markers.
The series will now head to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for three games. If the Bears take care of business on the road and win two of the three matchups, they won’t be back at Giant Center until the Calder Cup Finals.
Here are the lines from the win:
Projected lineup for Game 2! 📝
Catch the broadcast:
📺@fox43.2 (Antenna TV), @MonSportsNet (DC region)
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻@FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350 (joined in-progress), @CapitalsRadio pic.twitter.com/OFIhElb4zk— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 1, 2024
