The Hershey Bears could not punch their ticket to a back-to-back appearance in the Calder Cup Final on Thursday night. The Bears fell 3-2 to the Cleveland Monsters in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals but are still up 3-1 in the series.
Hershey got goals from Ethen Frank and Garrett Roe but dropped a game where the Bears were missing several key contributors due to injury. Cleveland also only gave Hershey two power plays compared to the six they saw in Game 3.
The Monsters got on the board first for the first time in the series through Josh Dunne. The big forward held off Bears defenseman Jake Massies before turning and firing a low shot that snuck its way through Hunter Shepard.
Cleveland took the 1-0 advantage just 2:10 into the first period.
Frank would respond almost a full 16 minutes later with a power play laser that beat Jet Greaves high over the shoulder. Frank has goals in seven straight games and is now tied with the Milwaukee Admirals’ Zach L’Heureux for the most goals (9) in this year’s postseason.
Joe Snively picked up his ninth assist of the playoffs on the tally which ties him with Hendrix Lapierre for the league lead in helpers.
Cleveland went back in front midway through the second period through forward Roman Ahcan. Ahcan fought through a stick check and fired a quick wrister that clicked off of Shepard and into the back of Hershey’s net.
Jake Gaudet took advantage of open ice and beat Shepard blocker side with a nice shot from the slot to increase the Monsters’ lead.
Just 45 seconds after Gaudet found the back of the net, Garrett Roe jammed home his fifth of the playoffs after a wild, net-front scrum. Ivan Miroshnichenko picked up his 11th postseason point (6g, 5a) in 11 games with the primary assist.
The Bears were missing lineup regulars Lucas Johansen, Aaron Ness, Pierrick Dubé, and Henrik Rybinski due to injuries suffered during the series. Hardy Häman Aktell made his return to the lineup after he missed the first three games with his undisclosed injury.
Cleveland will host Game 5 on Saturday night with elimination at stake again. If the Monsters pick up that win, Game 6 will come back to Giant Center.
Here are Hershey’s lines from the loss:
Projected lineup for Game 4! 📝
Catch the broadcast:
📺@fox43.2 (Antenna TV), @MonSportsNet (DC region), @NHLNetwork
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻@FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350 (joined in-progress), @CapitalsRadio pic.twitter.com/ZeXD6f9IVP— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 6, 2024
