Live updates: Hershey Bears vs Bridgeport Islanders – Round 1, Game 2

Game information

#5 Hershey Bears (1-0) vs. #4 Bridgeport Islanders (0-1)
April 23, 2026 | 7 p.m. | Giant Center | Hershey leads series, 1-0
Referees: Jordan Deckard (14), Mathieu Menniti (30)
Linespersons: Brandon Grillo (75), Anthony Lapointe (58)

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, In-arena on 88.9-FM
Watch live: AHLTV on FloHockey
Listen live: Froggy Valley 100.1-FM Stream, Fox Sports 1460-AM Stream
Radio pre-game coverage starts at 6:30 p.m.; Television coverage starts at 7 p.m.

Tonight’s Promotion: Playoff Rally Towel Giveaway – The first 6,000 fans will receive a playoff rally towel, thanks to Toyota, Ollie’s, Western Pest Services, and Eagle Excavating Inc.

Game preview

The Hershey Bears defeated the Bridgeport Islanders 2-0 in Game 1 on Tuesday. Now the series turns to Giant Center, where the Bears will host their first home postseason game of the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Bears have an opportunity to eliminate Bridgeport tonight and effectively end the team, as the franchise is relocating to Hamilton next season.

The Hershey Bears have an incredible opportunity in their first-round playoff series: They can literally end the Bridgeport Islanders

Tuesday’s Game 1 was a muddy affair, which featured a lot of icings and was played mostly along the boards. David Gucciardi eventually scored the game’s first goal — and the eventual game-winner — late in the third period, 52:31 into the game. Ilya Protas later added an empty-neter — his first career playoff goal — in the final two seconds, while Clay Stevenson made 18 saves for his first postseason shutout.

David Gucciardi’s game-winning goal, Clay Stevenson’s first postseason shutout power Hershey to 1-0 series lead over Bridgeport

Per Bears PR, the team is especially good in Game 2’s of a best-of-three series.

Hershey seeks to advance to the Atlantic Division Semifinals with a win tonight over the Islanders. When leading a best-of-three series 1-0, the Bears have a record of 8-2 in Game 2. Overall, Hershey has played a total of 14 best-of-three playoff series in its postseason history, owning a series record of 10-4. The Bears own a lifetime 79-62 record in Game 2s, with a 47-22 mark for Game 2s on home ice, and a 48-30 record in Game 2s after already winning the previous game. Hershey’s last best-of-three series victory came in 1964, a 2-1 quarterfinal series victory over the Providence Reds.

Ahead of tonight’s contest, Protas was named the AHL’s Rookie of the Year, becoming just the second Bears player to win the award.

Ilya also recently spoke to RMNB about his call-up to the Capitals.

Ilya Protas on his new nickname with the Capitals, playing together with his brother Aliaksei, his NHL firsts, and how Alex Ovechkin mentored him

Puck drop for tonight’s game is at 7 pm.

Lines

Hershey Bears

Unavailable for the Bears tonight due to injury/illness: Cam Allen, Ryan Chesley, Spencer Smallman, Eriks Mateiko

1st Period

Waiting for puck drop.

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