The Hershey Bears have lost three games in a row in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Cleveland Monsters. Hershey was forced back home after two consecutive road defeats and dropped Game 6 on home ice in overtime.
The Bears trailed after the first intermission but got goals from Henrik Rybinski and Joe Snively to push them to a late lead. Cleveland tied the game with just under 33 seconds remaining in regulation before getting the overtime winner from defenseman Jake Christiansen.
Cleveland was on the board first through a power-play strike late in the first frame. Hershey took two, too many men on the ice penalties and were burned in the dying seconds of the resulting man advantage from the second one.
Owen Sillinger pumped in a one-time blast short side on Shepard.
The Bears found the tying goal through Henrik Rybinski halfway through the second period. Rybinski, promoted to the team’s top six by head coach Todd Nelson, received a pass from Alex Limoges in the slot and slammed a shot by Monsters netminder Jet Greaves.
Rybinski has two goals in three games after going seven games without one.
Joe Snively scored what looked like the series-clinching marker at the 19:10 mark of the third period during a wild final two minutes of regulation. Hendrix Lapierre kicked the play off and Chase Priskie fed a wide-open Snively backdoor for the tally.
The never-say-die Monsters weren’t dead yet though. With just 32.9 seconds left and Greaves pulled, they forced overtime with a lucky bounce off a skate and in.
Cleveland found the game-winner with just 2:29 remaining in the first overtime period. Christiansen grabbed the goal in his first game of the series after returning from injury.
The Bears lost top goal-scoring winger Ethen Frank to an injury early in the second period. They were also once again without Pierrick Dubé, Aaron Ness, and Lucas Johansen.
Coachella Valley is already through to the Cup Final on the other side of the bracket. The Firebirds arrived in Pennsylvania early to get a practice in on Monday and their entire coaching staff took in Game 6 at Giant Center.
The Bears will host Game 7 at Giant Center on Wednesday night. Puck drop is set for 7 pm.
Here are Hershey’s lines from the loss:
Projected lineup for Game 6! 📝
Catch the broadcast:
📺@fox43.2 (Antenna TV), @MonSportsNet (DC region)
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻@FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350 (joined in-progress), @CapitalsRadio pic.twitter.com/Yin3OLPT6Q— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 10, 2024
