HERSHEY, PA — Ivan Miroshnichenko had Giant Center ROAR’ing early in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals.
Taking a slick pass from Mike Vecchione in the slot, Miroshnichenko sent a one-timer past Coachella Valley Firebirds goaltender Chris Driedger as he was falling to give the Bears a 1-0 lead 5:51 into the game.
Miroshnichenko was literally face down on the ice as he began to celebrate.
The goal marked Miroshnicenko’s seventh goal of the playoffs and his first since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Monsters — a span of 25 days.
Miroshnichenko’s Magic not only got Giant Center to its feet but also the Russian rookie himself. As he skated to the Bears’ bench, the normally stoic forward lifted his arms toward the roof to further pump up the crowd.
“He SCCOOOAAARRRSSSS,” the voice of the Bears’, Zack Fisch, screamed on the telecast. “Vecchione makes it happen and no mistake for Ivan Miroshnichenko. Hershey grabs a 1-0 lead!”
To get open, Miroshnichenko made a small split-second instinctual drop back into a soft area in the offensive zone.
Miroshnichenko now has 11 points in 16 games in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs — good for fifth-most on the Bears. His 7 goals for the Bears trail only Ethen Frank (9) and he is tied for fourth most in the postseason.
🚨MIRO MAGIC!!!🚨 pic.twitter.com/EYKOHxH77R
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 16, 2024
