Game information
#5 Hershey Bears (0-0) at #4 Bridgeport Islanders (0-0)
April 21, 2026 | 7 p.m. | Total Mortgage Arena | Series tied, 0-0
Referees: Liam Maaskant (45), Hayden Verbeek (61)
Linespersons: Nick Briganti (58), Kevin Briganti (39)
Broadcast Information
PXP: Zack Fisch, Garrett Mitchell, and Todd Sadowski
TV: Antenna TV (WPMT FOX 43.2, Xfinity Ch. 247 and 1178, Verizon FiOS Ch. 463, Blue Ridge Ephrata Ch. 91, and Blue Ridge Newberry/Duncannon Ch. 88)
Radio: WFVY-100.1-FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM
Watch live: AHLTV on FloHockey
Listen live: Froggy Valley 100.1-FM Stream, Fox Sports 1460-AM Stream
Game preview
The Hershey Bears begin their quest for their fourteenth Calder Cup championship with their Game 1 opening-round matchup against the Bridgeport Islanders.
After finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division, the Bears will play the fourth-seeded Islanders. They are appearing in the AHL’s Opening Round for the first time in years, having earned byes in previous seasons.
Ivan Miroshnichenko‘s overtime goal in Game 82 of the regular season guaranteed Hershey a home playoff game after pushing the Bears out of the sixth spot where they would have played all three of their playoff games in Charlotte.
The Islanders have home ice in the three-game series. Game 2 is set to be played at Hershey’s Giant Center on Thursday before the series returns to Bridgeport for Game 3 on Saturday, if necessary.
The Bears are led by 19-year-old rookie Ilya Protas, the younger brother of the Capitals’ Aliaksei Protas, who led the team in goals (29) and points (66) during the regular season. Fellow rookie Andrew Cristall finished second in points with 60.
Sonny Milano will return to the Bears lineup after missing the final few games of the regular season with an upper-body injury. The veteran forward recorded 13 points in 16 games after being sent down from the Capitals. This playoff run appears to be the end, at least for now, of Milano in North America as he is reportedly set to play in the Swiss National League next season.
The Islanders are led by Adam Beckman who scored 30 goals this season and Matt Luff who had 52 points. Former Bears defenseman Ethan Bear was a key contributor for the team posting 27 points in 40 games. Cole Eiserman, a close friend of Cole Hutson, is also a player to watch after recording nine points (2g, 7a) in 12 games down the stretch after signing out of Boston University.
Clay Stevenson will get the start and oppose Marcus Högberg, who is getting the suprise start over Henrik Tikkanen. Tikkanen beat the Bears in three straight starts down the stretch, but is not dressing after a poor performance late in the regular season. Former Bears goaltender Semyon Varlamov beat the Bears in the two teams’ last meeting on Saturday, but is not playoff eligible.
Hershey has defeated Bridgeport in their previous two playoff meetings. If the Bears can win, they will literally end the team as the franchise is relocating to Hamilton next season.
Lines
Hershey Bears
Unavailable for the Bears tonight due to injury/illness: Cam Allen, Ryan Chesley, Spencer Smallman, Eriks Mateiko
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Penalty kill
Bogdan Trineyev double minor for high-sticking at 0:42
Louie Belpedio and Travis Mitchell get matching minors for roughing at 7:22. Four-on-four hockey for two minutes.
Penalty kill
Andrew Cristall roughing penalty at 14:05
At intermission: Hershey and Bridgeport are tied 0-0. Bridgeport leads in shots 9-6.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Power play
Marshall Warren interference penalty at 12:47
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