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.
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-netter — his first career playoff goal — in the final two seconds, while Clay Stevenson made 18 saves for his first postseason shutout.
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.
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
Puck is dropped.
Ivan Miroshnichenko fires just wide on a breakaway to open the game.
The Bears get an early goal from Andrew Cristall, set up by AHL Rookie of the Year, Ilya Protas.
1-0 Hershey Bears
Goal: Andrew Cristall (1). Assists: Ilya Protas (1), Jon McDonald (1). Time: 04:10
After a hot start, the Bears head to the penalty kill for the first time in the game.
Penalty kill
Jon McDonald holding penalty at 07:15
The Bears successfully kill off the Islanders’ first power play.
Holy schmoley, Alex Ovechkin is in the building! He’s at the game with Aliaksei Protas!
Power play
Luke Rowe hooking penalty at 12:51
Clay Stevenson makes a stop on a shorthanded breakaway attempt by Daylan Kuefler. Big-time scrum afterward as Kuefler kept poking away at the puck.
Corey Schueneman and Kuefler get matching minor penalties at 14:32.
Penalty kill
Andrew Cristall high-sticking penalty at 15:12
Another successful penalty kill, great work from Bogdan Trineyev.
Huge pileup in Hershey’s crease as Matthew Highmore runs Stevenson. The Bears’ number-one netminder got a few shots of his own in.
Power play
Matthew Highmore goaltender interference penalty at 18:22
Trineyev and Matt Luff also got matching roughing minor penalties.
At intermission: Hershey is up 1-0 with Cristall’s early tally. The Bears lead in shots 8-5.
2nd Period
Waiting for puck drop.
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