The Hershey Bears are headed into their final matchup of the regular season against the Rochester Americans on Sunday afternoon.
While the Bears have already clinched a playoff spot, they have plenty to fight for where playoff positioning is concerned. With a win, they’ll finish fifth in the Atlantic Division and play the Bridgeport Islanders in the first round, while a loss means finishing sixth and a trip to Charlotte to play the Checkers.
The difference in quality of opponents between the Checkers and the Islanders is stark, as the 43-23-5 Checkers are 19 standings points ahead of the Islanders with one game remaining. However, the Bears are 4-3-1 against the Checkers this season and only 2-3-1 against the Islanders, including a 2-1 loss to them on Saturday night.
Charlotte ended Hershey’s attempt to three-peat as champions last year, sweeping the Bears out of the playoffs in just three games. Bridgeport did not qualify for the playoffs last year, finishing last in the Atlantic Division.
While the Bears still have that to fight for, the Americans are likely to be even more desperate, as they risk missing the playoffs altogether with a regulation loss. They must gain at least one point in Hershey to overtake the Utica Comets for the final playoff position in the North Division.
Hershey will look to bounce back after a tough loss to the Islanders, after which head coach Derek King was highly critical of his team’s effort.
“Right now I shouldn’t have to go in there and energize these guys,” King said postgame. “They should be energized enough by themselves. I know they’re young and that, but they got to learn. It’s game 72 tomorrow – I shouldn’t have to go in there with my pom-poms and cheer these guys on – they have to figure that out. And if they do, great. If they don’t, then some of them may not have long careers.”
The Bears got captain Aaron Ness back from injury against Bridgeport after he missed 26 games. Hershey is 2-1-0 against the Americans this season, but have lost five games in a row on home ice.
