The Hershey Bears are right back in the running for this year’s Calder Cup as they bounced back from a poor showing in Game 3 to take down the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-2 in Game 4. The win was the first for a road team inside Acrisure Arena during this year’s playoffs.
Hershey’s entire first line factored into the decision. Ethen Frank scored his 10th goal of the postseason, Hendrix Lapierre struck in the second period, and Joe Snively found the back of the net in the third. Hunter Shepard was stout in net, stopping 22 shots.
Frank added some pop to a scoreless first period, getting a puck by Chris Driedger in Coachella Valley’s net with just 1:23 left on the clock. Hershey held the lead into the first intermission after allowing just four shots on Hunter Shepard.
After a seven-game goal streak earlier in the playoffs, Frank had been without a goal for five games until Thursday night.
Shane Wright slipped to the front of the net for a highlight reel tally to tie the game with 10:20 left in the second frame.
The Bears were back for some more late-period offense though as Lapierre scored the second goal of the game from the team’s first line. Frank combined with Joe Snively to set up the beautiful backdoor tally.
Ryker Evans tied the game just 32 seconds into the third period. Another early-period goal given up by Hershey in the series.
Snively put the Bears back in front on a power play 4:21 into the final frame.
Lapierre grabbed his third point of the game on the play. He leads the AHL in postseason scoring with 20 points (6g, 14a) from 18 games.
Shepard came up with several ridiculous saves to keep Hershey in front.
The Calder Cup Finals will definitely be coming back to Giant Center for Game 6 after the Bears picked up the win. Hershey and Coachella Valley were also tied at two wins apiece in last year’s championship series.
The Firebirds managed just 13 shots through 40 minutes of regulation after recording 23 shots alone in Game 3’s second period.
Aaron Ness, Vincent Iorio, Lucas Johansen, and Garrett Roe were all out again. Nicky Leivermann made his AHL playoff debut and played next to Dylan McIlrath on the team’s top pairing.
Here are Hershey’s lines from the win:
Projected lineup for Game 4! 📝
Catch the broadcast:
📺 @fox43, @MonSportsNet (DC region), @NHLNetwork (Firebirds feed)
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻 @FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350, @CapitalsRadio pic.twitter.com/p6MJL31A6O— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 21, 2024
