photo: Twitter/TheAHL
The Hershey Bears rallied from two goals to beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-2 (OT) in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals on Wednesday night at Accresor Arena in Palm Desert, California. The victory earns the Bears their 12th Calder Cup in franchise history.
The Firebirds struck first less than five minutes into the game on a goal by Ryker Evans, his fifth of the postseason, and held a 1–0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Bears struggled with zone exits and zone entries early, but settled as the period progressed.
The Firebirds made it 2-0, just 24 seconds into the middle frame with a goal from Max McCormick, his 14th postseason goal. But bears will attack them again.
Conor McMichael He added a power play goal, his second goal in as many matches, and Hendrix Lapierre He scored on a redirect to tie the game at 2-2 going into the second intermission.
After a passive defensive struggle in the final frame, Mike Vecchione scored the winner in the Bears 12th Calder Cup overtime series.
Lined up
Hunter Shepard (13-6, 2.32 GAA, .910 sv%) Got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Joey Dacord (15-10, 2.21 GAA, .926 sv%) Got the starting goaltender for the Firebirds. Bears front lines and defensive pairs:
Mike Veccione – Henrik Borgstrom – Ethene Frank
Joe Sinville – Connor McMichael – Garrett Bailon
Alexi Brotas – Hendrix Lapierre – Sam Anas
Beck Mallenstein – Riley Sutter – Mason Morelli
Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Gabriel Carlson – Dylan McElrath
Lukas Johansen – Vincent Yorio
Hunter Shepard
Zack Focale
scratchesMike Sgarbosa (injury), Bobby Nardella, Jake Massey, Shane Jersic, Henrik Rybinski, Matt Strom, Julian Napravnik, Bogdan Treniev, Ludwig Pearson, Drew Krebs, Aleksandr Suzdalev.
The first period
The Firebirds opened the scoring less than five minutes into the contest with a score of Ricker Evans (5) At 4:41. Andrew Poturalsky (9) and Jesper Freudin (5) He had helpers.
Lead Birds 1-0 pic.twitter.com/pE3MmifTpJ
– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 22, 2023
And that was in the first 20 minutes of play. Coachella Valley led in shootings 17-12 after 20. The Bears looked a little tight at first, struggling with defensive zone exits and offensive zone entries, but got better as the period progressed.
The second period
The Firebirds extended their lead to 2-0 with just 24 seconds left in the middle frame with a goal from Max McCormick (14). Ugly bird (22) and Ricker Evans (21) He had assistants.
Cap it again!!!
Birds lead 2-0 pic.twitter.com/xc1YHKxlg2– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 22, 2023
The Firebirds had a clean shorthanded breakaway by Carson Twarynski with 13:27 left in the middle frame, but Hunter Shepard came up big with the stoppage. The play will mark the game’s turning point.
The Bears cut the Firebirds’ lead to 2-1 with a powerful goal by Connor McMichael at 13:52 of the second period. This was McMichael’s second goal in as many matches. Mason Morelli (8) f Joe Snelly (13) assists.
Conor McMichael gets the Bears back. He scores through powerful play, his second goal in most matches. Gentle feeding from Mason Morelli. The Firebirds took a 2-1 lead late into the middle frame. # the capper #HBH pic.twitter.com/Uit3RWi8jt
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) June 22, 2023
Moments later the Bears tied the game on a previously redirected shot Hendrix Lapierre (3) At 17:09. Vincent Yorio (4) f Alexi Brutas (8) He had assistants.
Hendrix plays in the desert! Hendrix Lapierre links it to a redirect. Nice keep by Alixi Protas. 2-2 late in the second half. #HBH # the capper pic.twitter.com/iGohhADjMU
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) June 22, 2023
The second half concluded with the game still tied at 2-2. Coachella Valley led in shooting 13-7 in the second half and 30-19 after 40 minutes of play. Hershey was 1 for 2 and Coachella Valley 0 for 1 on the power play after two periods.
Third period
The Bears dominated the first half of the third period, but the Bears were unable to pick a string, as regulation ended with the game still tied, 2-2. The Bears had two power plays but were unable to capitalize.
Hershey led the shots 9-4 in the third period, with the Firebirds leading 34-28 after three periods of play.
over time
The Bears won it in the extra frame on a goal by Mike Vecchione. The Calder Cup winner came in at 16:19 of the extra frame. The assists were scored by Henrik Borgström and Ethen Frank.
Mike Vecchione scores the winner in the overtime series! Bears win the twelfth Calder Cup! # the capper #HBH pic.twitter.com/KgEAynsyQX
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) June 22, 2023
The win gives the Bears their 12th Calder Cup in franchise history. The device was introduced with Bears Captain Dylan McElrath.
Captain Dylan McElrath and the Bears took home the Calder Trophy. # the capper #HBH pic.twitter.com/K0OYerGSTh
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) June 22, 2023
Ultimately, Bears head coach Todd Nelson would get the Calder Cup from McElrath after all of the Bears players and Blacks had a chance to lift and skate with the trophy.
Todd Nelson is no stranger to the Calder Cup. Well done coach. #HBH # the capper pic.twitter.com/UjF6knNZbv
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) June 22, 2023
Bears goaltender Hunter Shepherd was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy for Most Valuable Player of the Series.
The Bears won their fourth Calder Cup since becoming the Capitals’ top developing affiliate in 2005-06, and Hershey also won in 2006, 2009, and 2010. The Capitals and Bears were previously affiliates for seven seasons from 1977 to 1984, including Including Hershey’s 1980 Calder Cup Championship.
Nine Bears dressed for Game 7 have also appeared in games with the Capitals this season, including Washington draft pick Conor McMichael (2019 NHL Draft, 1st rd, 25th total), Aliaksei Protas (2019 Draft, 3rd rd, 91st total) In addition To Herndon, Virginia native Joe Sinville.
Tournament items are already available here:
Carpentry
- AHL Box Points
- Attendance: 10,087
- Coachella Valley led in hitting, 47-38.
- Garrett Bailon led all Bears in putouts with 9.
- Hershey was 1 for 4 and Coachella Valley was 0 for 2 on the power play.
- Hunter Shepard stopped 45 of 47 shots for a 0.957 game save percentage.
- The game stars: 1) Mike Vecchione, 2) Hendrix Lapierre and 3) Conor McMichael.
Calder Cup Stats
- 4 Game 7 in the Bears Calder Cup Finals.
- 12 The seventh game in Calder Cup history.
- For the eighth time, the home team won each of the first six games of the Calder Cup Finals.
- The Bears are 4-2 in the Calder Cups as the Capitals AHL affiliate.
- The Bears have won three of their four victories in overtime.
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